2 


«  OP.  CALIF.  LIBHAHY,  LOS  AHGELES 


By  permission  of  George  II'.  Roughton. 

ANNKKK. 


ANNEKE 


A   LITTLE   DAME    OF   NEW   NETHERLANDS 


BY 


ELIZABETH  W.  CHAMPNEY 

AUTHOR  OF  "WITCH  WINNIE,"  "  WITCH  WINNIE'S  MYSTEBY," 
"PATIENCE,"  ETC. 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS 


NEW  YORK 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

1900 


COPYRIGHT,  1900 

BY 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.    A  VERY  QUEER  CHEESE 1 

II.    A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE 18 

III.  AT  EEMBRANDT'S  HOUSE 46 

IV.  EIVALS  IN  HONOR 68 

V.    UNDER  FALSE  COLORS 84 

VI.    THE  BUBBLE  BURSTS 105 

VII.  WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS  AND  THE  MAROONERS   .   .   .  117 

VIII.    ORANGE  BOVEN 141 

IX.    PEARLS  AND  TEARS 155 

X.    THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST 175 

XI.    AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK 198 

XII.    THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS  A  NOBLE  LIFE 222 

XIII.  A  CAVALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES 246 

XIV.  FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND    ...  .278 


111 


21S86G5 


Introduction. 

THE  author  confesses  at  the  outset  that  her  story 
is  not  true  to  the  biography  of  the  characters  whose 
names  she  has  borrowed  for  her  heroine  and  heroes. 

A  real  Anneke  lived  long  ago  and  was  loved  by 
Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  and  by  William  Nicoll ;  but 
they  were  born  a  few  years  too  late  to  have  had  the 
experiences  related  in  the  early  part  of  this  nar- 
rative. 

The  historical  events  described  are  in  their  main 
lines  true  to  fact,  and  it  has  been  the  author's  aim 
to  create  a  faithful  presentment  of  the  ambitions, 
emotions,  vicissitudes,  struggles  and  victories  which 
might  have  come  into  the  lives  of  noble-minded 
men  and  women  living  at  this  period ;  and  in  so  do- 
ing to  show  what  were  the  influences  in  Holland 
and  in  England  which  led  to  the  founding  of  the 
Colony  of  New  Netherland  and  to  its  seizure  by  the 
English. 


CHAPTER  I. 


A   VERY   QUEER   CHEESE. 

He  that  can  endure 
To  follow  with  allegiance  a  falling  lord, 

earns  a  place  i'  the  story. 

— Shakespeare, 

ILLIE  NICOLL,  Wil- 
lie   Nicoll,  will   you 
give  me  your  answer  ? 
Will  you  stay  in  your 
burrow  like   a  milk- 
blooded  rabbit,  to  be 
killed  by  that  ferret  Cromwell,  or 
is  it  off  with  me  to  make  your 
fortune   in   the    Spanish   Main  ? 
Once  for  all  will  you  answer  me, 
Willie  Nicoll?" 

"  And  once  for  all  my  answer 
is  no,  Captain  Morgan,  no  to  both  questions.  I  will 
not  stay  at  home  to  be  caught  by  the  Puritans,  and 
I  will  not  accept  your  offer.  England  is  no  place 
for  a  Royalist  unless  he  is  in  the  service  of  the 
King,  and  since  his  Majesty  has  nothing  for  a  boy 
of  seventeen  to  do,  I'm  back  to  finish  my  studies  at 


2  ANNEKE. 

Leyden,  and  to  fit  myself  to  serve  him  to  some  pur- 
pose by  and  by." 

"  Nonsense,  lad,  by  the  time  you  have  graduated 
the  king  will  have  no  need  of  you.  There  will  be 
great  changes  in  England  in  the  next  few  years,  or 
I  am  no  weather  prophet  and  can't  tell  that  there's 
a  storm  coming  when  I  see  the  clouds  gathering. 
Nobody  knows  what  will  be  left  standing  when  the 
hurricane  has  passed.  Better  put  off  to  sea,  says  I, 
and  then,  when  your  cruise  is  ended,  you'll  know 
what  colors  to  run  up  as  you  sail  into  port." 

The  youth's  cheeks  flushed.  "  I  shall  display  the 
King's  colors,  no  matter  what  happens,  and  fight 
for  him  the  more  desperately  the  more  he  needs 
me,"  Willie  said,  stoutly. 

"Eight  you  are,  and  gallantly  said.  I  only 
spoke  as  I  did  to  try  your  mettle,  man,  and  what 
better  university  could  there  be  for  an  English 
cavalier  than  the  free  wide  sea  ?  What  better  col- 
lege than  a  ship  of  war?  I'll  warrant  that  you 
will  be  better  fitted  to  serve  his  Majesty  when  I 
have  graduated  you,  with  your  sea  chest  full  of 
pearls  from  Margarita,  and  your  share  of  Spanish 
silver  in  the  hold,  your  arm  trained  to  cutlass  fenc- 
ing, and  a  decoration  or  two  carved  on  your  cheek, 
than  as  a  pale-faced  student,  with  your  pockets 
empty  of  everything  but  a  Dutch  diploma.  I  tell 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  3 

you,  too,  "Willie  Nicoll,  that  the  African  wench, 
Mookinga,  who  keeps  my  cabin  at  Tortuga,  was 
with  the  Spaniards  at  Margarita.  She  was  held  as 
a  Youdoo  witch  by  the  negro  pearl-divers.  They 
stole  all  the  larger  pearls  and  gave  them  to  her  to 
keep  for  them.  She  alone  knows  where  they  are 
buried.  She  heard  in  some  way  of  the  free  negroes 
of  Jamaica,  and  slipped  away  in  a  crazy  craft  with 
two  other  fugitives,  to  try  to  find  them  and  rouse 
them  to  make  a  descent  on  Margarita.  "We  came 
across  the  sloop  when  her  provisions  were  spent, 
and  Mookinga  fell  to  my  share.  She  was  my  cook 
and  housekeeper,  while  I  was  buccaneering  at 
Tortuga.  I  was  kind  to  her,  and  one  day  she  gave 
me  some  great  pearls  which  she  had  secreted  in  her 
hair,  and  she  promised  to  show  me  how  I  could 
surprise  the  Spanish  garrison  at  the  fort  at  the 
entrance  of  the  harbor  at  Margarita,  and  what  sig- 
nals to  show  to  make  all  the  negroes  of  the  island 
rise  and  massacre  the  Spaniards.  I  am  to  set  the 
negroes  free  and  clear  out  the  Spaniards,  and  the 
pearls  are  to  be  mine." 

"  Why  did  you  not  sail  on  this  expedition  instead 
of  returning  to  England  ?  " 

"  Because,  "Willie,  I  was  only  one  of  a  band  of 
buccaneers,  with  whom  I  would  have  had  to  divide 
my  booty  if  I  had  taken  them  into  my  confidence. 


4  ANNEKE. 

I  came  back  to  England  to  get  the  command  of  a 
ship  from  King  Charles,  and  to  gather  a  company 
of  gentlemen  adventurers  of  the  right  stamp  with 
his  Majesty's  permission  to  make  war  on  the 
Spaniards." 

"  Did  you  get  your  commission,  Captain  Morgan  ?  " 
"  No,  Willie,  his  Majesty  is  in  too  great  straits 
just  at  present  to  involve  himself  with  other  powers 
by  granting  his  royal  signature  to  any  paper  which 
might  plunge  him  into  more  hot  water.  We  must 
needs  take  the  matter  into  our  own  hands,  and  sail 
on  the  authority  of  our  own  broadswords.  Harkee, 
Willie,  if  there's  no  other  way,  I'll  engage  under 
the  Earl  of  Warwick  with  other  gentlemen  of  the 
right  spirit,  and  when  we  receive  our  orders  (for  no 
matter  what  port),  we'll  set  the  helm  for  the  West 
Indies.  It  will  be  easy  enough  to  purchase  a  par- 
don, from  whichever  party  happens  to  be  in  power, 
when  we  return  with  a  lot  of  Spanish  prizes.  I'm 
over  to  Holland  now  under  sealed  orders  from  the 
King.  I  am  to  take  command  of  a  sloop  that  I  shall 
find  at  a  harbor  hereabouts,  but  what  I'm  to  do  I 
know  no  more  than  you,  Willie.  It's  the  last  time 
that  I  shall  set  out  under  any  orders  but  my  own  if 
I  can  make  up  the  crew  I  want." 

"And    have   you   told   my   father   of    this   fine 
scheme  ?  " 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  5 

"  No,  Willie,  your  father  is  a  courtier  of  the  old 
school.  It  would  be  of  no  use  to  talk  it  over  with 
him ;  but  I've  made  you  the  offer  in  all  good  faith, 
and  I've  shown  my  hand,  rather  more  plainly  than 
is  prudent,  because  I  trust  in  your  honor  as  a  gen- 
tleman. Now  all  I  want  to  know  is — why  will  you 
not  take  your  schooling  with  me,  since  I  am  not 
particular  if  you  do  serve  the  King  if  you  ever  see 
your  chance  to  do  so  ?  " 

"  Because,"  cried  the  young  man,  not  calculating 
the  effect  of  his  words  in  his  indignation,  "  because 
I  happen  to  have  my  chance  now.  There  are  more 
ways  of  serving  the  King  than  you  realize,  Captain 
Morgan,  and  since  we  are  having  a  straight  look 
into  each  other's  principles,  I  will  say  just  this  :  I 
am  as  fond  of  treasure  as  you  are,  and  still  more  so 
of  adventure  in  the  getting,  but  I've  no  fancy  to 
fight  under  a  pirate's  flag,  Captain  Morgan." 

The  Captain's  face  grew  black — and  he  lifted  his 
clenched  fist  but  let  it  fall  with  an  oath  to  his  side. 

"Nay,  I  love  you  too  much,  Willie  Nicoll,  to 
quarrel  with  you  because  we  have  both  blabbed 
more  than  is  good  for  us.  So,  you  have  found  your 
chance  for  serving  the  King  have  you  ?  Well,  trust 
me  for  keeping  your  secret,  if  you  keep  mine.  This 
sea  air  gives  a  man  a  rousing  appetite,  let  us  eat  and 
drink  together  here  on  deck,  and  then  we  will  both 


6  ANNEKE. 

i 

be  better  natured.  Have  you  nothing  in  that 
lunch-hamper  which  you  have  been  nursing  all  the 
way  from  London  to  share  with  an  old  friend, 
Willie  Nicoll?" 

The  young  man  started  and  changed  color,  but 
unstrapped  the  hamper  with  alacrity.  It  contained 
a  variety  of  savory  viands,  and  to  these  Willie 
helped  his  companion  with  a  liberal  hand.  It  was 
amazing  to  note  how  much  the  Captain  ate.  It  was 
as  though  he  were  provisioning  for  his  contemplated 
voyage  to  the  Spanish  Main,  and  as  "Willie  lifted 
out  one  delicacy  after  another  the  captain  peered 
greedily  into  the  hamper  eager  to  ascertain  what 
was  left.  The  young  man  made  no  attempt  to 
hinder  him,  and  the  gormandizing  guest  at  last  felt 
both  appetite  and  curiosity  fully  satisfied.  There 
was  nothing  remaining  in  the  hamper  but  a  round 
cheese  box. 

"  A  little  slice  of  cheese,  Willie,"  coaxed  the  Cap- 
tain, "  just  a  little  slice  of  cheese  to  top  off  with, 
and  then  I'll  share  my  'baccy  and  brandy  with  you, 
and  thank  ye  kindly,  Willie.  It's  been  a  luncheon 
fit  for  a  king." 

"  I  think  I'll  not  cut  the  cheese  this  afternoon, 
Captain  Morgan.  I  am  saving  that  to  remind  me 
of  home  for  many  a  day  to  come,"  said  Willie,  re- 
placing the  half  emptied  preserve  pots  and  bottle 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  7 

in  the  hamper,  and  fastening  down  the  cover  with 
decision. 

"  As  you  please,"  replied  the  other  surlily,  "  but 
taking  cheese  to  Holland  is  a  bit  like  carrying  coals 
to  New  Castle,  isn't  it,  Willie?  You  must  have 
plenty  of  it  at  Leyden." 

"  Not  cheese  like  this,"  Willie  replied  airily,  "  this 
is  Stilton,  old  Stilton,  and  it  will  be  riper  still  before 
I  cut  it.  Then  I'll  surprise  some  of  my  Dutch 
mates." 

"  Just  invite  me  in,  Willie,  when  you  open  the 
box,"  said  Captain  Morgan,  "  for  I'm  powerful  fond 
of  cheese,  and  I've  taken  it  into  my  head  that  this 
is  an  uncommon  rich  one."  And  the  Captain  winked 
knowingly  as  he  took  a  gulp  from  his  pocket-flask. 
The  Captain's  insinuation  alarmed  Willie,  and  he 
had  good  cause  for  apprehension,  although  he  was 
really  a  student  of  Leyden  university,  having  the 
year  before  entered  the  school  of  engineering  which 
Prince  Maurice  founded.  To  all  appearances  he 
was  only  a  quiet  youth  deeply  interested  in  his 
studies,  but  in  reality  he  was  much  more  than  this. 
King  Charles  I.  had  trusty  agents  all  over  Europe, 
and  to  Willie  Nicoll,  through  a  relative  who  was 
groom  of  the  bedchamber,  were  entrusted  secret 
errands  of  great  importance,  which  could  not  be 
transacted  openly  by  the  English  ambassador. 


8  ANN  EKE. 

When  Governor  Winthrop  came  from  the  New 
England  colony  to  solicit  help  from  King  Charles 
for  the  building  of  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Con- 
necticut River  a  letter  was  sent  through  Willie  to 
Lion  Gardiner,  an  English  military  engineer,  who 
had  established  himself  at  the  town  of  Woreden  in 
Holland,  and  the  negotiations  were  so  well  con- 
ducted by  Willie  that  Gardiner  accepted  the  con- 
struction and  command  of  this  fort,  and  removed 
under  the  patronage  of  Lords  Say  and  Brooke  to 
New  England.  The  part  played  by  Willie  was  a 
delicate  one,  for  it  was  important  that  no  hint  of 
this  transaction,  which  threatened  the  Dutch  Colony 
in  America  should  be  known  in  Holland. 

Having  accomplished  this  errand  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  his  principals,  others  were  entrusted  to  him, 
in  the  conduct  of  which  young  Willie  Nicoll  dis- 
played a  tact  beyond  his  years.  In  1641  the  second 
year  of  his  residence  at  Leyden  he  received  a  letter 
summoning  him  home  on  account  of  the  illness  of  his 
mother.  Seriously  alarmed,  for  Willie  was  passion- 
ately attached  to  his  mother,  he  easily  obtained 
leave  of  absence  on  reporting  the  reason  to  the  uni- 
versity authorities,  and  hurried  to  London.  What 
was  his  relief  on  reaching  home  to  find  his  mother 
in  perfect  health,  her  illness  being  only  a  pretext 
for  his  presence,  which  was  required  to  fully  under- 


A    VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  9 

stand  a  mission  of  more  than  ordinary  importance 
and  danger.  King  Charles  was  entering  upon  the 
last  stage  of  his  struggle  to  maintain  his  royal 
authority,  against  that  of  Parliament.  Already  he 
felt  that  he  was  playing  a  losing  game,  but  there 
were  certain  expedients  to  be  tried  before  the  stand- 
ard was  raised  and  a  last  desperate  appeal  was  made 
to  arms. 

First  of  all  money  was  needed,  to  pay  off  the 
royal  troops,  whose  allegiance  was  wavering,  and 
in  a  hundred  other  ways  to  strengthen  the  totter- 
ing throne.  The  Parliament  would  not  vote  the 
funds  of  which  the  King  was  so  deeply  in  need  and 
money  from  some  quarter  must  be  had. 

The  Stadtholder  of  the  Netherlands,  Prince 
Frederick,  had  proposed  in  the  name  of  his  son, 
Prince  "William  II.  of  Orange,  for  the  hand  of  King 
Charles'  daughter,  the  Princess  Mary.  This  alliance 
at  any  other  time  would  not  have  been  considered, 
for  though  William  the  Silent,  the  young  man's 
grandfather,  was  a  nobler  man  than  any  of  the  race 
of  Stuarts,  he  lacked  the  prestige  of  royal  birth. 

But  Prince  Frederick,  who  shrewdly  guessed  the 
King's  necessities,  had  offered  financial  assistance 
and  the  offer  had  been  made  at  the  most  favorable 
moment,  for  Charles  was  at  his  wits'  end.  The 
Queen,  Henrietta  Maria,  had  decided  to  sell  her 


10  ANN  EKE. 

jewels,  but  this  could  not  be  effected  openly  as  it 
was  important  that  Parliament  should  know  noth- 
ing of  the  King's  attempts  to  raise  money.  The 
jewels  were  too  valuable  to  be  presented  for  sale 
in  any  city  of  Europe  by  a  private  individual  with- 
out exciting  inquiry,  and  in  this  exigency  Prince 
Frederick  had  been  applied  to,  and  had  agreed  to 
privately  negotiate  a  loan  upon  them. 

It  was  to  convey  these  jewels  to  the  Prince  that 
a  secret  and  trusty  messenger  had  been  required, 
and  that  Willie  had  been  summoned. 

It  was  easy  for  the  Groom-of-the-Bedchamber  to 
receive  the  precious  casket  from  the  Queen,  and  to 
convey  it  to  the  house  occupied  by  Willie's  father, 
but  even  in  the  short  walk  in  the  dusk  across 
Whitehall  gardens  the  circumstance  of  a  Groom-of- 
the-Bedchamber  hastening  along  with  a  large  parcel 
under  his  arm  was  not  unnoted  by  one  of  the  sen- 
tinels instructed  to  keep  a  sharp  eye  on  the  exits 
and  entrances  of  the  palace.  This  sentinel  followed 
at  a  distance,  noted  what  house  the  groom  en- 
tered, that  the  shutters  were  immediately  closed 
and  that  he  came  out  in  a  few  moments  without 
the  parcel. 

Later,  when  in  Willie's  presence  the  casket  was 
opened,  he  was  dazzled  by  the  magnificence  and 
oppressed  by  the  responsibility  of  the  trust  confided 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  11 

to  him.  The  principal  object  in  the  casket  was  a 
small  coronet  made  for  the  Queen  in  France  and  a 
part  of  her  bridal  trousseau.  The  casket  was  of 
considerable  size  and  much  thought  was  bestowed 
by  Willie's  father  as  to  how  best  to  conceal  it.  At 
last  it  was  decided  to  wrap  it  in  tinfoil  and  hide  it 
within  the  excavated  rind  of  a  Stilton  cheese.  The 
cheese  box  was  in  turn  packed  at  the  bottom  of  a 
luncheon  hamper — under  two  roasted  partridges,  a 
bottle  of  port  and  several  pots  of  jam.  This  lunch- 
eon hamper  it  will  be  well  understood  was  the  ob- 
ject of  great  solicitude  to  Willie  in  his  journey. 
When  the  driver  of  the  stagecoach  insisted  that  it 
should  be  placed  outside,  Willie  took  his  seat  on 
top  with  the  precious  hamper  between  his  legs, 
sticking  to  his  post  through  a  driving  rain  and 
never  relinquishing  his  hold  of  the  hamper,  until 
he  boarded  the  ship  that  was  to  take  him  across  the 
German  ocean.  It  was  on  the  deck  of  this  ship 
that  he  had  met  with  Captain  Morgan,  an  old 
friend  of  his  father's,  and  that  the  conversation  had 
taken  place  with  which  this  chapter  opens. 

The  Captain  grew  more  and  more  good-natured 
and  confidential  as  the  strong  waters  with  which  he 
had  refreshed  himself  began  to  take  effect. 

"  Harkee,  Willie,"  he  said,  "  I  like  you,  and  I  don't 
mind  giving  you  a  warning.  You  are  watched, 


12  ANNEKE. 

Willie.  There's  an  officer  on  board  this  ship  with 
a  warrant  for  your  arrest  in  his  pocket." 

"Arrest,"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  "and  on 
what  charge  ?  " 

"Kobbery,  Willie.  Some  rogues  have  made  a 
great  haul.  One  of  the  Queen's  ladies-in-waiting 
discovered  yesterday  that  some  of  her  most  valuable 
jewels  are  missing.  The  Queen  vowed  she  had  done 
nothing  with  them,  but  was  not  inclined  to  have 
any  search  made.  The  lady's  husband,  however, 
reported  the  matter,  and  the  police  have  it  in 
hand." 

"  But  what  have  I  to  do  with  all  this  ? "  asked 
Willie. 

"  Simply  this,  my  lad.  One  of  the  sentinels  on 
being  questioned  reported  that  he  had  followed  a 
man  carrying  a  parcel  from  the  private  entrance  of 
the  queen's  apartments  to  your  father's  house  night 
before  last." 

"  Richard  Nicolls,  whose  duties  as  groom  of  the 
bedchamber  kept  him  late  at  the  palace  last  night 
dropped  in  to  see  me.  He  may  have  been  the  man 
whom  the  sentinel  saw." 

"  That  is  what  I  said,  Willie.  What  more  nat- 
ural than  that  your  cousin  should  wish  to  greet 
you.  You  are  clever  not  to  deny  that  it  was  he  for 
the  sentinel  was  sure  of  his  identity  ;  but  the  parcel, 


A    VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  13 

what  explanation  have  you  as  to  what  was  in  the 
parcel  ?  " 

"  As  to  that,  I  am  sure  I  can't  tell." 

"  Nobody  wants  you  to  tell,  Willie.  I'm  just  go- 
ing to  suppose  a  case,  and  it's  a  supposition  that  may 
have  occurred  to  them  that's  tracing  up  this  theft. 
Your  cousin's  honesty  is  undoubted,  Willie.  Every 
one  knows  he's  devoted  to  the  King  and  Queen,  but 
now  supposing  that  the  Queen  wanted  him  to  do  an 
errand  for  her  with  these  jewels.  We  won't  pre- 
tend to  guess  what  the  errand  was.  They  were  her 
own  property,  it  is  her  own  business,  and  no  busi- 
ness of  Parliament's,  is  it  ?  But  suppose  the  husband 
of  the  Queen's  lady-in-waiting  is  a  member  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  that  Parliament  has  a  nasty  curiosity 
about  everything  that  the  King  and  Queen  are  do- 
ing nowadays,  why  of  course  it  would  be  your 
cousin's  duty  to  help  the  Queen  circumvent  Parlia- 
ment, wouldn't  it?  Then  suppose  that  the  Queen 
wanted  those  jewels  carried  to  foreign  parts  and 
you  happened  home  in  the  nick  of  time  and  were 
returning  to  your  college  duties,  what  more  natural 
to  suppose  than  that  you  might  do  the  Queen  a 
favor  by  taking  them  along  with  you.  Eh ! 
Willie ! " 

The  young  man  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "The 
only  baggage  that  I  have  brought  with  me,"  he 


14  ANN  EKE. 

said,  nonchalantly,  "is  a  handbag  and  mandolin, 
which  I  left  in  the  Captain's  cabin.  They  are  at 
liberty  to  search  them." 

"  So  glad,  my  lad,  that  they  have  your  permission, 
for  they  have  done  it.  They  were  a-going  through 
'em  when  I  fitted  my  eye  to  the  keyhole,  just  be- 
fore I  came  on  deck  ;  and  they  are  going  to  relieve 
you  of  this  here  hamper  just  as  soon  as  you  start  to 
go  ashore.  So  I  don't  feel  any  compunctions  at 
having  consumed  so  much  of  your  food,  Willie." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  this  ?  "  the  young  man  asked 
quite  startled. 

"  Just  you  go  below  and  take  a  look  at  your  traps, 
and  see  whether  I'm  right,"  replied  the  Captain. 
"  I'll  walk  along  with  you,  so  that  they  shan't 
snatch  your  hamper  from  you,  and  I'll  lean  against 
the  cabin  door,  careless  like,  while  you  overhaul 
your  belongings." 

It  took  but  a  moment  for  Willie  to  ascertain  that 
the  Captain  was  right.  His  bag  had  been  thoroughly 
ransacked,  and  the  front  of  his  mandolin  had  been 
sliced  from  the  back,  to  ascertain  whether  anything 
were  concealed  within.  This  gave  Willie  an  idea, 
and  whipping  the  casket  out  of  its  hiding-place,  he 
placed  it  within  the  broken  mandolin,  tying  the  in- 
strument together  with  a  piece  of  dark  cord,  and 
slinging  it  across  his  breast  by  its  ribbon.  Then, 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  15 

feeling  that  he  must  not  encumber  himself  with  un- 
necessary luggage,  he  left  his  bag  in  the  cabin,  and 
came  out,  carrying  conspicuously  the  hamper  with 
which  he  had  entered.  He  handed  it  to  the  Cap- 
tain, saying  meaningly — "  If  you  really  want  to  do 
me  a  favor  I  beg  you  to  carry  this  hamper  on  shore 
at  Delf shaven,  and  leave  it  with  the  landlady  of  the 
Jolly  Mermaid,  where  I  will  call  for  it." 

"Now,  "Willie,  aren't  you  asking  a  little  too 
much?"  the  captain  replied  in  an  injured  tone. 
"  That  hamper  has  been  a  pretty  noticeable  object 
all  the  way  down  from  London." 

"  There  is  nothing  in  it  of  any  value,  I  assure 
you,"  said  Willie.  "  You  know  yourself  that  you 
already  carry  the  greater  part  of  its  former  con- 
tents." 

"All  but  the  cheese,  "Willie.  You  haven't  left 
the  cheese  in  the  hamper,  have  you  ?  " 

"  It  is  there  fast  enough,  but  I  assure  you  that  it 
does  not  contain  what  you  think  it  does." 

"  Of  course  not.  It  was  only  a  supposititious 
case,  Willie.  But  supposing  that  the  jewels  we 
were  speaking  about  were  concealed  in  that  cheese. 
Why  then  it  would  be  a  handy  thing  to  have  a 
trusty  friend  like  me  take  'em  in  charge  for  you  at 
a  ticklish  time  like  this.  For  you  know,  Willie,  that 
if  you  should  be  arrested,  and  if  so  be  they  were 


16  ANNEKE. 

found  upon  you,  and  you  were  taken  back  to  Lon- 
don— why  the  Queen  wouldn't  acknowledge  she 
sent  'em  to  foreign  parts  by  you  —  •  Oh !  no,  Willie, 
the  Queen  wouldn't  help  you  out,  for  Parliament 
would  say  that  the  jewels  are  the  property  of  Eng- 
land most  likely,  and  that  the  Queen  had  no  right 
to  send  them  out  of  the  country.  The  Queen  would 
just  stick  to  what  she  has  said  already,  that  she 
didn't  know  what  had  become  of  them.  She's  dis- 
owned you,  Willie.  She's  declared  they're  stolen, 
and  she  can't  go  back  on  her  word.  More  luck  to 
you" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  the  young  man  asked,  for 
there  was  a  subtle  insinuation  in  Morgan's  tone. 

"  She's  declared  they're  stolen,  hasn't  she  ?  We'll 
make  her  words  true.  Skip  with  them,  Willie,  and 
I'll  help  you.  Will  meet  on  the  deck  of  my  sloop 
and  go  shares  with  the  cheese."  They  were  stand- 
ing under  the  shelter  of  the  sail  and  Captain  Mor- 
gan, opening  the  hamper  took  out  the  cheese  box, 
and  tied  his  great  silk  handerchief  about  it. 

"  There  goes  the  hamper  overboard,"  he  said,  "  I 
may  have  to  cut  for  it  when  we  land,  and  I  may  as 
well  carr}'  no  unnecessary  ballast.  Why,  here  we 
are  now  !  Well,  this  has  been  a  short  voyage  and  a 
pleasant  one.  I'll  let  you  know  where  to  find  me, 
Willie.  We'd  better  separate  as  we  go  ashore." 


A   VERY  QUEER  CHEESE.  17 

"Willie  thought  so  too,  for  he  had  been  aware 
that  a  stranger  in  a  Puritan  hat  and  cloak,  who  was 
seated  on  the  capstan  with  his  back  to  them,  al- 
though apparently  absorbed  in  reading,  had  observed 
the  transfer  of  the  cheese  box  from  a  small  mirror 
which  lay  between  the  leaves  of  his  book.  This  in- 
dividual was  presently  joined  by  another  of  the 
same  complexion,  and  the  two  stood  on  either  side 
of  the  gangway  as  the  passengers  disembarked. 

As  Willie  stepped  on  the  plank,  Captain  Morgan 
pushed  by  him  and  leaping  on  shore,  started  off  at  a 
run.  At  the  same  moment  a  chill  shot  down  Willie's 
spinal  column,  as  he  felt  the  hand  of  one  of  the 
officers  on  his  shoulder.  But  the  other  cried  ex- 
citedly,— "  Not  this  fellow,  the  other.  Catch  the  man 
with  the  cheese  !  "  So  saying  he  was  off  after  Morgan 
as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him.  The  man  who 
held  Willie  whirled  him  around,  and  seeing  that  he 
carried  nothing  but  his  mandolin  which  had  been 
but  lately  investigated,  pushed  him  aside  and  ran 
after  his  companion. 

Willie  lost  no  time  in  watching  the  chase,  but 
hurrying  to  a  posting-house  with  which  he  was 
familiar  secured  a  horse  to  take  him  to  Leyden,  as 
it  was  necessary  for  him  to  keep  up  his  character  of 
a  student  of  the  university. 


CHAPTER  II. 


A   PEARL   OF   GREAT   PRICE. 

Ever  and  anon, 

Came  patient  camels  laden  heavily 
With  sacks  they  poured  down,  kneeling  at  his  feet, 
With  garnets,  or  red  rubies,  from  the  hills, 
Filled  to  the  brim.     Then  Azron  would  out-pour 
The  glittering  heap,  sifting  them  carelessly, 
Choosing  now  here,  now  there,  from  all  the  heaps, 
Maybe  a  dozen  exquisite  bright  gems. 

Or  again,  some  day 
A  lonely  diver  with  a  single  pearl 
Brought  it  to  Azron.     Azron  paid  and  smiled 
Undaunted  by  the  cost  of  pricelessness. 

— Alice  Wellington  Rollins. 

HERE    was   no   doubt 
in  Willie's  mind  that 
if  the  jewels  had  real- 
ly    been     committed 
to    Captain   Morgan's 
keeping,    neither    the 
Queen  nor  he  would  ever  have 
seen  them  again.    By  his  own 
showing   Morgan  was  a  pre- 
cious rascal,  and  Willie  chuck- 
led to  himself  at  the  trick  he 
had  played  upon  him,  as  he 
rode  with  his  precious  mandolin  swinging  at  his  side. 

18 


A  PEARL  OF  GEE  AT  PRICE.  19 

He  had  bought  a  pot  of  glue  at  Delf shaven  and  had 
paused  in  the  first  copse  to  mend  the  mandolin,  per- 
forming the  task  so  neatly  that  when  it  was  dry  no 
one  would  have  imagined,  save  for  its  weight  that 
it  was  the  depository  of  the  Queen's  casket,  while  it 
was  a  far  less  suspicious  object  to  carry  about  with 
him  than  a  Stilton  cheese. 

The  usual  residence  at  the  Hague  of  the  Stadt- 
holders  was  the  Binnenhof,  but  Willie  knew  that 
Prince  Frederick  was  not  at  the  palace,  for  he  had 
been  instructed  to  meet  him  in  Amsterdam,  and  he 
only  paused  to  leave  his  horse  at  the  post-house,  to 
refresh  himself  at  an  inn  and  to  purchase  a  mount 
that  pleased  him  at  the  horse  market. 

It  was  well  for  him  that  he  did  so,  for  the  detect- 
ives, whom  he  had  thrown  off  his  track  at  Delfs- 
haven,  followed  him  to  the  Hague  and  finding  that 
he  had  given  up  his  horse  without  taking  another  lost 
much  time  in  searching  for  him  in  that  city,  and  es- 
pecially in  watching  the  Binnenhof.  Willie  had 
brought  with  him  from  England  but  one  letter  of 
introduction,  a  recommendation  from  the  artist 
Vandyke  to  his  friend  Kembrandt  in  Amsterdam ; 
this  was  destined  to  be  of  great  service  to  him,  but 
as  he  rode  toward  Leyden  he  felt  that  he  might 
have  need  of  other  influence  in  this  enterprise, 
and  he  bethought  him  that  one  of  his  best  friends 


20  ANN  EKE. 

at  the  university,  Kiliaen  Yan  Rennselaer,  who  had 
repeatedly  urged  him  to  visit  in  Amsterdam,  was 
the  grandson  and  namesake  of  the  principal  dealer 
in  precious  stones  in  that  city. 

Accordingly  after  a  good  night's  rest  in  his  own 
rooms,  he  presented  himself  at  his  friend's  quarters. 

"  Close  your  books,  Kiliaen,"  he  cried,  gaily, 
"  and  be  off  with  me  to  Amsterdam.  I  have  busi- 
ness with  your  painter  Rembrandt  and  now  is  your 
opportunity  to  entertain  me  for  a  day  or  two,  if 
you  are  still  of  the  mind." 

Kiliaen  threw  his  cap  into  the  air  with  delight. 

"  Nothing  could  happen  better,"  he  cried,  seating 
himself  on  the  side  of  Willie's  chair,  and  throwing 
an  arm  affectionately  around  his  neck,  "  I  was  just 
on  the  point  of  going  home  for  a  little  visit.  Lis- 
ten, and  see  how  finely  things  have  arranged  them- 
selves. My  uncle,  Jeremias  Yan  Rensselaer  has 
returned  with  his  family  from  our  plantation  in 
the  American  wilderness,  to  place  his  daughter 
where  she  may  be  educated.  They  are  visiting  at 
my  grandfather's  house  in  Amsterdam,  and  my 
mother  has  written  me  to  come  home  and  meet 
them  before  my  Cousin  Anneke  is  clapped  into  some 
prison-school  and  my  aunt  returns  to  Rensselaer- 
wyck.  My  mother  wrote  that  Anneke  is  the  pret- 
tiest little  maid  that  one  can  imagine,  though  born 


A  PEARL  OF  GEE  A  T  PRICE.  21 

and  hitherto  bred  up,  among  the  savages.  I  am 
wild  to  see  my  barbarian  cousin,  and,  marvel  of 
generosity,  I  am  desirous  of  sharing  her  acquaint- 
ance with  you.  Not  a  word.  I  have  often  written 
of  you  to  my  parents,  and  they  are  prepared  to 
give  you  a  hearty  welcome.  Our  house  is  not  so 
large  as  my  grandfather's  mansion  but  you  shall 
share  my  chamber — and  all  my  pleasures." 

"  It  will  be  a  privilege  indeed  to  know  your  fam- 
ily," said  Willie,  "  and  especially  the  pretty  cousin, 
and  I  give  you  my  word  to  make  no  attempt  to 
cut  you  out  in  her  good  graces." 

"  No  danger,"  Kiliaen  replied,  "  we  have  neither 
of  us  the  ghost  of  a  chance,  for  my  mother  writes 
that  my  grandfather  has  great  designs  for  her. 
My  grandfather  is  a  born  ruler.  He  is  one  of  the 
Lord  Directors  of  the  West  India  Company,  and 
president  of  the  Amsterdam  chamber.  Every  one 
says  that  it  is  owing  to  his  admirable  management 
that  the  company  is  paying  dividends  of  one  hun- 
dred per  cent. ;  but  an  autocrat  is  not  always  the 
most  agreeable  man  to  have  intimate  relations  with, 
and  I  fancy  his  fellow-directors  feel  something  as 
his  family  do  about  his  tyranny." 

"  So,  your  grandfather  is  something  of  a  tyrant  ?  " 

"  The  most  affectionate  one  in  the  world.  He 
never  desires  anything  unless  he  imagines  it  is  for 


22  ANNBKE. 

our  best  interest,  and  the  plague  of  it  all  is  that  he 
is  invariably  right.  He  rules  his  five  grown  sons  as 
though  they  were  children.  His  word  is  law  with 
our  entire  clan,  but  one  is  not  always  in  love  with 
law,  you  understand,  even  when  it  is  just." 

As  the  two  friends  journeyed  together  toward 
Amsterdam,  Kiliaen  told  Willie  more  of  his  grand- 
father, and  interested  him  greatly  in  this  remark- 
able man. 

For  Kiliaen  Yan  Kensselaer,  senior,  was  not  only 
a  merchant  prince  of  immense  wealth  for  the  times 
in  which  he  lived,  but  possessor  of  extraordinary 
abilities  which  would  have  made  him  distinguished 
in  any  walk  in  life.  His  inherited  fortune  had 
been  greatly  increased  by  extensive  mercantile 
transactions,  for  he  was  one  of  the  leading  import- 
ers of  pearls  and  diamonds  in  Europe.  He  had 
furnished  gems  to  every  sovereign  of  the  day,  and 
his  house  was  known  in  all  the  marts  of  trade. 
But  great  as  was  the  capital  which  was  invested  in 
his  business  it  was  as  nothing  to  his  princely  pos- 
sessions in  lands  upon  the  Hudson. 

The  West  India  Company,  organized  at  first  for 
purposes  of  trade  alone,  had  found  that  to  protect 
its  trading  station  on  Manhattan  Island,  it  must 
colonize  the  country  in  its  vicinity. 

Accordingly  its  directors   devised  a  scheme  by 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.      23 

which  any  of  their  own  number  who  should  send 
out  a  party  of  fifty  settlers  to  any  part  of  the  coun- 
try not  already  improved  by  the  company,  should 
be  created  a  patroon,  or  baron,  and  be  granted  by 
the  states  general  a  tract  of  land  sixteen  miles  on  one 
side  or  eight  miles  on  both  sides  of  a  navigable 
river,  and  extending  inland  indefinitely. 

The  patroon  was  granted  feudal  rights  over  his 
colonists,  who  were  little  better  than  serfs.  Manu- 
factures were  forbidden,  hunting  and  trading  with 
the  Indians  were  allowed,  but  the  West  India  Com- 
pany reserved  the  monopoly  of  purchasing  furs 
from  the  colonists,  and  of  furnishing  them  with  im- 
ported goods.  There  was  to  be  no  taxation  for  ten 
years,  and  the  company  encouraged  farming  and 
building,  and  agreed  to  furnish  a  certain  number  of 
negro  slaves,  and  to  provide  soldiers  as  a  protection 
against  Indians. 

Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  had  been  one  of  the  first 
to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  offered.  He 
possessed  ships  of  his  own,  and  he  had  sent  out  a 
colony  well  provided  with  all  necessities.  He  had 
chosen  the  most  desirable  of  locations,  the  present 
site  of  Albany,  and  beside  the  land  granted  had 
bought  immense  tracts  of  the  Indians  east  and  west 
of  the  Hudson.  His  great  barony  comprised  the 
present  counties  of  Albany,  Columbia  and  Rensse- 


24  ANN  EKE. 

laer  and  was  called  Rensselaerwyck.  His  second 
son,  Jeremias,  had  emigrated,  and  with  the  assist- 
ance of  an  able  agent,  Arendt  Van  Corlear,  man- 
aged the  great  estate  and  built  himself  a  comfortable 
mansion,  but  the  patroon  himself  had  remained  in 
Holland,  directing  by  his  influence  in  the  West  In- 
dia Company  the  course  of  affairs  in  the  colony, 
while  he  had  made  his  eldest  son,  Johannes,  his 
partner  in  business,  and  intended  that  he  should 
succeed  him  in  the  inheritance  of  his  interests  in 
Amsterdam. 

Though  by  birth  a  member  of  the  lesser  nobility 
Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  was  at  heart  an  aristocrat. 
He  cherished  the  idea  of  founding  hereditary  estates 
for  his  descendants  in  the  new  world,  and  he  had 
other  ambitious  designs  for  those  of  his  family  who 
remained  in  Europe.  Love  for  his  children  with 
Kiliaen  Yan  Eensselaer  was  more  than  a  passion,  it 
was  his  religion.  He  had  seen  great  changes  dur- 
ing his  lifetime  here  in  the  Netherlands.  The  abdica- 
tion of  Charles  V.,  the  crowning  of  Philip  II.,  and 
the  expulsion  of  the  latter  by  William  the  Silent 
were  all  matters  of  comparatively  recent  occurrence. 
Prince  Maurice  had  succeeded  his  father  as  stadt- 
holder,  and,  though  opposed  by  the  democratic 
party  under  John  of  Barneveld,  had  triumphed,  and 
his  brother  Frederick  Henry  held  the  Netherlands 


A  PEARL  OF  GREA  T  PRICE.  25 

with  a  royal  grasp.  Why  in  the  new  world,  where 
there  were  no  old  established  monarchies  to  de- 
throne, should  not  the  Yan  Rensselaers  establish  a 
principality  or  even  a  new  dynasty  ?  But  the  pa- 
troon's  most  ambitious  hopes  were  centred  in  his 
granddaughter,  Anneke.  Kiliaen  II.,  by  right  of 
primogeniture  might  be  monarch  of  the  kingdom 
in  America,  but  what  was  to  hinder  Anneke  from 
becoming  the  wife  of  a  European  prince  ?  She  was 
very  beautiful  and  could  have  a  dowry  befitting  a 
queen.  On  her  mother's  side  there  were  preten- 
sions to  royal  ancestry,  for  the  Van  Cortlands  were 
descended  from  the  dukes  of  Courland. 

None  of  his  colleagues  suspected  that  such  a 
dream  floated  through  the  mind  of  Kiliaen  Van 
Rensselaer,  for  he  hid  his  great  ambition  behind  an 
impenetrable  reserve,  and  played  his  game  astutely 
but  silently,  biding  his  time. 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  American  plans,  he  had 
influenced  the  West  India  Company  to  send  out  as 
governor  his  nephew,  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  whose 
sister  Van  Rensselaer's  oldest  son  Johannes  had 
married.  Van  Twiller  was  a  man  of  very  ordinary 
capacity,  an  easily  managed  tool  carrying  out  the 
designs  of  his  principal  with  the  utmost  servility. 
They  had  one  strong  interest  in  common, — that  of 
seeing  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  II.  succeed  to  the 


26  ANN  EKE. 

governance,  possibly  to  the  future  kingship,  of  New 
Netherland.  It  was  a  part  of  the  patroon's  deep 
laid  scheme  that  neither  his  children  nor  his  grand- 
children fully  understood  his  plans.  He  had  de- 
signedly sent  to  America  his  second  son  Jereraias, 
whose  children  were  to  have  no  part  in  this  scheme 
of  the  future  New  Netherland  domain,  and  while 
urging  him  to  send  back  his  daughter  for  a  conti- 
nental education  drew  his  thoughts  toward  a  future 
for  her  in  Holland;  and  rendered  Jeremias  free 
from  the  suspicion  of  his  American  neighbors  of 
harboring  designs  ambitious  enough  to  encroach 
upon  their  own.  Jeremias  Yan  Kensselaer,  it  has 
been  said,  had  married  into  the  Van  Cortlandt 
family,  which  was  extremely  popular  in  New  Am- 
sterdam. He  was  not  even  friendly  with  Governor 
Van  Twiller,  who  made  himself  extremely  disliked 
by  the  grasping  manner  in  which  he  acquired  land 
of  the  Indians  in  every  direction.  Van  Twiller 
bought  Nut  Island  in  the  harbor  and  named  it  from 
his  country  residence  Governor's  Island.  He  se- 
cured many  other  great  tracts  and  was  looked  upon 
as  a  greedy  speculator,  who  was  possibly  misusing 
the  funds  of  the  West  India  Company.  No  one 
knew  that  the  lands  which  he  was  acquiring  on 
Long  Island  and  north  of  the  Sound  as  well  as 
Arendt  Van  Corlear's  extensive  purchases  from  the 


A  PEAEL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  27 

Indians,  and  the  great  barony  of  Jeremias  Yan 
Rensselaer  were  all  the  property  of  Kiliaen  Yan 
Rensselaer  of  Amsterdam,  and  held  by  him  as  the 
future  realm  of  his  grandson  and  namesake,  Kiliaen 
Yan  Rensselaer  II.,  student  at  Leyden  university. 
Still  less  could  any  one  have  fancied  that  the  little 
maid  brought  up  on  the  pioneer  farm,  who  met  the 
children  of  her  neighbors  with  such  unfeigned  de- 
light and  good  comradeship,  was  destined  to  a 
queenly  station.  Least  of  all  had  the  two  young 
people  any  intimation  of  this  until  the  year  in 
which  our  story  opens. 

The  Yan  Rensselaer  family  had  attended  the 
ball  given  by  the  burgomaster  of  Amsterdam  in 
honor  of  the  visit  of  Prince  Frederick  and  his  son 
Prince  William,  and  Anneke  had  danced  with  the 
young  Prince.  Her  grandfather  noticed  that  the 
boyish  fancy  of  Prince  William  was  taken  by  An- 
neke's  beauty,  but  he  evinced  no  interest  in  this  cir- 
cumstance, replying,  with  apparent  inconsequence, 
to  the  suggestion  of  Anneke's  mother  that  a  dinner 
might  be  tendered  to  their  High-mightinesses, — that 
gems  offered  in  the  open  mart  never  brought  so  high 
a  price  as  those  not  supposed  to  be  for  sale. 

Willie  received  a  welcome  from  the  parents  of  his 
friend,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johannes  Yan  Rensselaer,  and 
from  his  pretty  sister,  Nelle  Marya.  They  resided 


28  ANNEKE. 

in  an  unostentatious  but  well  appointed  brick  house, 
whose  stepped  gable  was  reflected  in  one  of  the 
quiet  canals  which  wander  through  many  of  the 
streets  of  the  "  Northern  Venice."  Kiliaen  made 
light  of  its  conveniences — "  You  shall  see  what  a 
true  Dutch  mansion  is  like  when  I  take  you  to  my 
grandfather's  house,"  he  said,  "  and  I  am  sure  that 
when  you  have  seen  it  you  will  confess  that 
we  Dutch  know  how  to  make  ourselves  comfort- 
able." 

As  Kiliaen  was  all  impatience  to  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  his  American  cousin,  while  Willie 
was  anxious  to  perform  his  responsible  errand  and 
to  disembarrass  himself  of  his  trust,  the  two  friends 
parted  on  the  morning  after  their  arrival,  Willie  to 
seek  an  audience  with  Prince  Frederick. 

He  was  not  unexpected,  for  the  negotiation  of 
the  jewels  was  the  Prince's  chief  errand  at  this 
time  in  Amsterdam,  though  while  awaiting  their 
arrival  he  had  made  a  pretext  for  his  stay  by  hav- 
ing Rembrandt  paint  a  portrait  of  his  son. 

He  examined  the  jewels  and  listened  with  much 
interest  to  Willie's  adventures.  "  A  secret  is  best 
kept,"  he  said,  "  when  few  have  it  in  charge.  I 
would  therefore  prefer  that  you,  rather  than  any 
of  my  own  people,  should  carry  this  casket  to  the 
jeweller,  to  whom  I  have  already  spoken  and  with 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  29 

whom  this  letter  will  be  your  sufficient  warranty 
for  transacting  the  business." 

It  was  not  until  after  Willie  had  bowed  himself 
from  the  Prince's  presence  that  he  read  the  address 
upon  the  letter,  and  noted  with  surprise  that  it  was 
that  of  his  friend's  grandfather,  Kiliaen  Yan  Rens- 
selaer,  Senior.  He  had  not  walked  far  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  shop  when  he  overtook  young  Kiliaen, 
who  had  loitered  so  long  over  his  toilet  that  he  was 
only  now  about  to  make  his  call.  Kiliaen  cordially 
urged  Willie  to  accompany  him,  but  rallied  him  on 
having  brought  his  mandolin ;  whereupon  Willie 
showed  him  that  the  instrument  had  been  injured, 
and  explained  that  he  had  taken  it  out  to  have  it 
mended,  begging  that  he  would  take  him  to  some 
maker  of  musical  instruments  after  they  had  paid 
their  call. 

Though  prepared  for  a  certain  degree  of  luxury, 
Willie  found  himself  surprised  in  the  house  of 
Kiliaen  Yan  Eensselaer,  for  it  was  one  of  the  finest 
in  Amsterdam.  It  exists  no  longer,  but  one  perfect 
example  of  the  comfort  with  which  a  Netherlander 
of  wealth  surrounded  himself  in  Yan  Rensselaer's 
day  remains  to  us  in  the  house  of  Nicholas  Plantin, 
so  admirably  preserved  in  the  city  of  Antwerp. 
The  tourist  can  find  in  it  at  the  present  time  a  sug- 
gestion of  the  house  of  the  head  of  the  Yan  Rens- 


30  ANNEKE. 

selaer  family.  Like  the  establishment  of  the  great 
book  publisher,  the  merchant's  home  and  business 
premises  were  contiguous.  The  young  men  entered 
the  shop  from  the  Kalverstraat,  and  passing  through 
the  salesroom,  where  Johannes  Van  Rensselaer 
usually  presided,  over  which  was  the  atelier  of  the 
lapidaries  and  goldsmiths,  they  entered  the  private 
office  of  the  head  of  the  firm.  Willie  was  struck 
by  the  ingenuity  of  its  arrangement.  An  irregular 
polygon  in  plan,  there  was  a  window  or  a  door  on 
every  side,  making  it  a  veritable  watch-tower,  com- 
manding every  portion  of  the  establishment.  From 
his  armchair  at  the  centre  table  Kiliaen  Van  Rens- 
selaer could  scrutinize  every  customer  who  entered 
his  shop ;  a  short  staircase  led  to  the  workrooms, 
one  door  to  the  treasure-vault,  another  to  an  airy 
court,  across  which  was  his  home.  The  court  had 
an  entrance  upon  a  side  street,  but  each  time  that 
the  bell  rang  the  merchant  could  note  who  entered 
or  left  his  dwelling.  All  of  this  became  evident  to 
Willie  before  he  left  the  room,  but  as  he  stood  on 
the  threshold  his  attention  was  absorbed  by  the  re- 
markable group  at  the  table.  Father  and  sons  had 
been  engaged  in  a  family  council.  They  had  been 
taking  account  of  stock,  and  the  business  had  been 
a  pleasant  one.  Johannes,  the  eldest  son,  formed 
the  centre  of  the  group,  and  was  explaining  with 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  31 

expressive  gestures  the  favorable  condition  of  the 
family  firm.  His  brother,  Jeremias,  the  guest  from 
distant  America  had  been  examining  at  the  request 
of  the  others  the  ledgers  which  showed  a  most 
gratifying  balance,  and  Jan  Baptist  who  acted  as 
bookkeeper  had  yielded  them  for  inspection  with 
the  proud  consciousness  that  his  brother  would  ap- 
prove his  work.  He  sat  a  little  removed  from  the 
others,  his  attention  less  absorbed,  for  he  thor- 
oughly knew  the  contents  of  the  books.  The  head 
of  the  firm  first  noticed  the  opening  of  the  door 
and  rose  from  his  seat  and  scrutinized  Willie  with  a 
look  of  keenest  penetration.  This  swift  glance  told 
the  young  man  that  here  was  a  personage  of  vast 
resources  and  power,  as  a  friend  to  be  trusted  ab- 
solutely, but  an  exacting  master  and  a  man  slow 
to  forgive  an  injury.  The  information  did  not 
particularly  concern  "Willie  at  this  juncture  but  he 
laid  it  aside  unconsciously  for  he  was  interested  in 
character  as  exhibited  in  physiognomy.  The  pa- 
trician was  also  interested.  "  A  personable  youth," 
was  his  mental  comment,  "with  brains  behind 
those  intelligent  eyes.  I  wish  Kiliaen  had  more  of 
his  alertness.  He  is  made  to  carve  his  way  and  to 
keep  his  own  counsel." 

After  a  few  moments  of  conversation  the  two 
elder  sons  left  the  room,  and  a  young  man  in  cler- 


32  ANNEKE. 

ical  costume  who  had  been  standing  at  some  dis- 
tance silently  took  a  position  behind  the  elder  Yan 
Rensselaer.  "Willie  inferred  at  once  from  a  certain 
family  resemblance  that  this  was  another  son,  but 
there  were  marked  personal  peculiarities  which 
were  not  noticeable  in  the  others.  The  chief  of 
these  was  in  his  eyes,  which  were  very  light,  and 
had  a  rapt,  absorbed  expression  as  though  he  saw 
nothing  that  was  passing  about  him.  Kiliaen 
greeted  him  as  "  Uncle  Nicolaus,"  and  he  gave  the 
young  man  his  hand  but  made  no  reply  to  his  salu- 
tation, and  apparently  to  make  up  for  his  son's  lack 
of  cordiality  the  merchant  said  to  Kiliaen :  "  Your 
Cousin  Anneke  is  in  the  porcelain  parlor  catalogu- 
ing my  china  curios.  I  have  asked  her  to  do  this 
to  judge  a  little  of  her  education  and  capacity.  Go 
in  and  help  her.  She  is  probably  at  her  wits'  end 
by  this  time." 

Kiliaen  sprang  forward  eagerly,  then  hesitated 
with  his  hand  upon  the  latch  of  the  open  door.  He 
generously  wished  Willie  to  have  the  privilege  of 
meeting  Anneke  and  he  disingenuously  stammered, 
"  My  friend  is  a  connoisseur  in  porcelains,  may  he 
not  go  with  me  ?  " 

"  A  connoisseur  rather  in  maidens,"  was  the  mer- 
chant's thought ;  but  he  had  no  time  to  speak,  for 
Nicolaus  Van  Rensselaer,  who  had  been  staring 


A  PEAEL  OF  GEE  AT  PEIGE.  33 

fixedly  straight  over  Willie's  head,  placed  himself 
before  the  door,  exclaiming  : 

"  Father,  if  this  young  man  comes  into  the  pres- 
ence of  my  niece  all  of  your  plans  for  her  will  be 
thwarted." 

"  Tush  ! "  exclaimed  the  merchant,  testily.  "  What 
plans  have  I  for  Anneke  ?  You  have  been  reading 
too  much  theology,  Nickon, — take  a  walk  in  the 
court  and  rest  your  brain.  As  for  you,  young  man, 
my  china  is  not  remarkable.  It  will  be  a  far 
greater  treat  to  you,  if  you  are  possessed  of  any 
knowledge  of  such  objects,  to  see  my  pearls,  which 
are  really  worth  the  seeing." 

Willie  could  scarcely  have  told  why  he  was  dis- 
appointed. He  had  never  seen  this  girl  from  the 
outskirts  of  civilization.  He  told  himself  that  she 
was  probably  ignorant  and  ill-mannered,  that  he 
had  seen  a  hundred  her  superior  in  England  and 
that  what  he  most  wished  at  this  moment  was  to 
have  this  opportunity  for  private  conversation  with 
the  great  dealer  in  precious  stones.  He  roused 
himself  as  Jan  Baptist  unlocked  the  ponderous 
door  of  the  vault  and  placed  before  his  father  one 
of  the  many  iron-banded  treasure  chests  with  which 
it  was  filled. 

The  merchant  unlocked  the  chest  with  a  key  on 
the  great  ring  at  his  girdle,  and  lifted  out  tray  after 


34  ANN  EKE. 

tray  on  whose  velvet  lining  reposed  pearls  which 
might  have  made  a  princess  envious.  Some,  care- 
fully matched,  were  threaded  in  long  ropes,  others 
un  pierced,  were  set  in  gold  filigree  as  earrings  or 
brooches.  Very  learned  was  their  owner's  dis- 
course concerning  the  lands  from  whence  they 
came,  Ceylon,  India  and  Persia,  for  he  had  several 
times  visited  the  east  in  his  own  ships  to  collect 
these  treasures  in  the  bazars  of  Constantinople  or 
at  the  pearl-fisheries. 

Opening  a  locked  drawer  Van  Kensselaer  took 
from  it  a  triangular  piece  of  embroidery,  entirely 
wrought  in  seed  pearls.  "  You  will  hardly  guess,"  he 
said,  "  the  use  for  which  this  object  was  designed." 

"  Is  it  a  falbala  (front  to  a  lady's  petticoat)  ?  " 
Willie  asked. 

"  Nay,  it  is  the  robe  of  an  image  of  the  virgin,  a 
hideous  black,  wooden  idol,  and  it  was  embroidered 
on  the  spot  by  wives  of  the  pearl  divers  of  the  island 
of  Margarita  in  the  West  Indies.  It  was  being  sent 
into  Spain  destined  for  the  virgin  of  Toledo,  when 
our  doughty  Admiral  Piet  Hein,  captured  it  along 
with  the  silver  fleet." 

When  Willie  inquired  how  the  tiny  seed  pearls 
could  be  drilled,  the  merchant  explained  that  this 
was  done  at  the  fisheries  by  the  natives. 

"  And  have  they  vices  delicate  enough  to  hold 


A  PEARL  OF  ORE  A  T  PRICE.  35 

such  minute  objects  while  they  are  being  pierced  ?  " 
Willie  asked. 

Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  was  pleased  with  his  in- 
terest, and  replied  :  "  Ah  !  the  invention  of  man- 
kind is  wonderful.  These  ignorant  people  have  a 
much  more  curious  contrivance.  They  bore  holes 
in  a  piece  of  wood ;  in  these  they  partly  insert  the 
pearls.  Then  they  soak  the  wood,  which  swells, 
holding  the  pearls  so  firmly  that  they  can  be  per- 
forated, and  yet  with  a  clasp  so  elastic  that  the 
pearl  does  not  break.  I  bought  this  robe  as  a  curi- 
osity, but  it  has  made  me  very  greedy  to  possess 
more  of  the  pearls  of  Margarita,  for  though  most 
of  these  are  small,  you  will  notice  that  there  are  a 
few  of  very  unusual  size.  The  worn-out  fisheries 
of  the  Orient  do  not  produce  any  so  large  as  these. 
The  fisheries  in  the  "West  Indies  have  in  comparison 
been  only  recently  opened,  and  the  industrious  lit- 
tle workers  have  been  undisturbed  for  centuries  in 
their  task  of  rolling  up  these  precious  globules. 
The  largest  known  pearl  that  has  ever  existed  came 
from  Margarita.  It  was  brought  to  King  Philip 
II.,  of  Spain,  in  1559,  and  weighed  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four  grains.  Jan  Baptist,  hand  me  Gar- 
cilaso  de  la  Vega's  Commentaries,  and  let  me  read 
what  he  relates  of  La  Pelegrina,  for  that  is  the 
name  by  which  this  prodigy  is  known. 


36  ANNEKE. 

"  '  I  did  myself  see  in  Seville  a  pearl  which  Don 
Pedro  de  Temez  did  present  to  Philip  II.  This 
pearl,  pear  shaped,  was  as  large  as  the  largest 
pigeon's  egg.  Jacoba  da  Trezzo,  a  native  of  Milan 
and  jeweller  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  said  that  it 
was  worth  a  hundred  thousand  ducats,  and  without 
parallel  in  the  world,  and  that  it  outweighed  by 
twenty-four  carats  every  other  pearl  in  the  world.' 

"  I  have  never  feasted  my  eyes  on  this  incom- 
parable jewel ;  but  once,  in  the  studio  of  Rubens,  I 
was  shown  a  sketch  for  the  portrait  which  he  made 
of  the  queen  of  Spain,  and  on  her  breast  rested  this 
most  beautiful  miracle  of  nature.  It  is  enough  to 
justify  us  for  making  war  upon  that  barbarous 
country,  to  think  that  it  holds  such  a  treasure." 

Willie  thought  of  the  scheme  of  his  friend,  the 
buccaneer  Morgan,  and  he  said  carelessly,  "  It 
might  be  a  good  plan  to  capture  the  fisheries  of 
Margarita  from  the  rascally  Spaniards." 

"  Yes,"  assented  Yan  Rensselaer.  "  We  have 
nearly  finished  our  task  of  chasing  them  out  of  the 
Netherlands,  and  Holland  may  soon  play  a  hand  at 
the  game  in  the  West  Indies.  Meantime  the  only 
pearls  that  come  to  us  from  there  are  chance  cap- 
tures like  Piet  Heins." 

The  merchant  would  have  continued  chatting  on 
his  hobby  had  it  not  suddenly  occurred  to  Willie 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  37 

that  it  was  time  to  announce  the  object  of  his  visit 
and  to  present  the  letter  from  Prince  Frederick. 
Van  Rensselaer  read  it  and  then  replied, — "  I  am 
somewhat  surprised  ;  not  that  my  Prince  wishes  to 
dispose  of  some  jewels,  for  of  that  I  have  been  ad- 
vertised, but  that  he  should  have  chosen  you,  (who 
my  grandson  has  just  told  me  are  a  student  at 
Ley  den),  instead  of  one  of  his  own  servants,  for  a 
messenger." 

"  Is  there  anything  impossible  in  a  student  being 
also  a  servitor  of  the  Prince?"  Willie  asked. 
There  was  no  direct  reply,  but  Nicolaus  Van  Kens- 
selaer,  who  had  been  gazing  out  of  the  window,  ap- 
proached and  said  solemnly,  "you  may  trust  this 
young  man  in  all  matters  save  those  of  the  heart, 
my  father." 

Willie  flushed  indignantly.  "  A  man  who  is  not 
honorable  in  love  must  be  dishonorable  to  the  core," 
he  said  hotly. 

"  There  is  no  question  here  of  love,"  said  the 
merchant.  "  If  you  are  indeed  the  messenger  of 
the  Prince  as  this  letter  indicates,  where  are  the 
jewels  ?  " 

With  a  quick  motion  Willie  unsheathed  a  stiletto, 
which  he  wore  at  his  side,  and  again  carved  his 
mandolin  as  though  it  were  a  melon  and  handed  the 
jeweller  the  casket.  Van  Rensselaer  opened  it,  and 


38  ANNEKE. 

his  astonished  look  told  that  he  could  scarcely  credit 
his  eyes.  He  examined  the  elegant  coronet  with 
the  gloating  appreciation  of  an  adept,  for  it  was  a 
beautiful,  as  well  as  an  extremely  valuable  object. 
Clusters  of  large  pearls  outlined  huge,  many-facetted 
sapphires  of  the  most  delicate  azure  tint,  while 
hoops  of  pearls  met  in  graceful  curves  above  the 
blue  velvet  cap. 

As  the  jeweller  lifted  the  coronet,  the  better  to 
examine  it,  he  saw  that  it  was  not  the  only  object 
in  the  casket,  for  coiled  beneath  it  was  a  necklace 
of  large  pearls,  having  for  its  central  pendant  a 
pear-shaped  pearl  of  phenomenal  size  and  exquisite 
lustre. 

Yan  Rensselaer  gazed  upon  this  pearl  with  fasci- 
nated astonishment.  "  The  Pelegrina ! "  he  ex- 
claimed in  wonder-stricken  admiration.  Then 
quickly  recovering  himself,  "  Nay,  it  is  impossible, 
but  'tis  a  remarkable  pearl  and  the  largest  I  have 
ever  seen.  The  diadem  too  is  fit  for  a  queen." l 

Willie  made  no  answer,  and  Nicolaus  Van  Rens- 
selaer taking  the  crown  from  his  father's  hands 

1  It  was  not  until  later  that  the  invaluable  pearl  disappeared  from 
Spain,  for  on  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  Louis  XIV.  (in  1660) 
the  grand  mademoiselle  thus  describes  Philip  IV. :  "  The  king  had 
on  a  grey  coat  with  silver  embroidery  ;  a  great  table  diamond 
fastened  up  his  hat  from  which  hung  a  pearl.  They  are  two  crown 
jewels  of  extreme  beauty — they  call  the  diamond  the  Mirror  of 
Portugal,  and  the  pearl  the  Pelegrina. 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  39 

raised  it  above  his  own  head  while  his  eyes  shone 
like  those  of  a  prophet  as  he  exclaimed,  "It  is 
the  diadem  of  a  queen,  and  though  that  rare  pearl 
has  rightly  the  form  of  a  tear,  for  who  wears  it 
must  shed  many,  still  be  not  afraid,  O  my  father, 
to  take  these  jewels  into  your  keeping,  or  to  lavish 
your  wealth  in  their  behalf,  for  they  shall  be  worn 
by  the  wife  of  a  Prince  of  Holland,  yea,  and  by 
their  child,  who  shall  reign  over  a  kingdom  beyond 
the  sea.  You  and  I  also  shall  come  to  honor." 

Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  was  deeply  moved,  but 
he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  son's  shoulder  gently,  and 
took  the  crown  from  his  hands.  "  He  knows  not 
what  you  are  saying,"  he  said  to  Willie,  "  he  is  sub- 
ject to  these  seizures.  There,  Nickon,  my  son,  go 
to  the  house  and  lie  down,  you  are  not  well." 

Nicolaus  gazed  about  him  vacantly  and  obeyed 
his  father,  who  watched  him  as  he  walked  un- 
steadily across  the  court. 

"  It  was  well  you  made  a  preacher  of  him,"  said 
Jan  Baptist,  "  for  he  has  no  head,  poor  fellow,  no 
head  at  all." 

"  Every  one  to  his  craft,"  replied  the  father,  "  it 
was  not  because  Nicolaus  was  a  fool  that  I  made 
him  a  preacher ;  but  let  us  to  our  business.  The 
workmanship  of  this  crown  is  French,  it  is  of  the 
time  of  the  Yalois,  but  I  had  no  idea  that  Coligny's 


40  ANNEKE. 

daughter  brought  "William  the  Silent  such  a  dowry, 
or  that  a  son  of  his,  having  inherited  it,  could  have 
borne  to  part  with  it.  If  the  Prince  wishes  to  sell 
these  jewels  he  must  be  in  need  of  money." 

"  I  said  not  who  was  the  owner,"  Willie  replied, 
"  but  you  are  right  in  guessing  that  money  is  needed, 
and  that  the  jewels  are  parted  with  reluctantly. 
They  are  rather  put  in  pawn  than  sold,  and  it  is 
stipulated  that  during  one  year  they  shall  be  neither 
exhibited  publicly  nor  broken  up,  but  may  be  at  any 
time  ransomed." 

The  merchant  looked  at  Willie  keenly  and  suspi- 
ciously. "  You  are  a  young  man  to  have  so  impor- 
tant a  matter  in  hand,"  he  said.  "I  must  have 
further  guaranty  before  I  pay  you  the  price  of  these 
jewels." 

"  I  shall  be  satisfied,"  Willie  replied,  "  if  you  will 
deliver  the  gold  to  Prince  Frederick,  giving  me 
simply  a  written  statement  that  you  have  received 
the  jewels,  and  will  render  their  value  to  the 
Prince." 

"And  when  can  I  have  an  interview  with  his 
Highness  ?  " 

"  He  told  me  that  he  would  be  at  the  house  of 
Rembrandt  this  evening.  You  can  there  arrange 
with  him  for  the  delivery  of  the  gold." 

The  merchant  and  Jan  Baptist  then  valued  the 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  41 

jewels.  "  Those  sapphires  are  most  rare  and  pure 
of  tint,"  said  Yan  Rensselaer.  "  I  have  never  seen 
more  beautiful  ones,  and  shall  be  disappointed  if 
they  are  reclaimed." 

He  estimated  each  of  the  larger  jewels  sepa- 
rately and  conscientiously,  Jan  Baptist  added  up 
the  amount,  his  father  nodding  approvingly.  "  A 
good  round  sum,  but  not  more  than  I  am  willing  to 
advance  on  such  security.  Give  me  the  agreement 
to  sign,  and  lock  away  the  jewels  in  our  strongest 
chest.  Tell  the  Prince  that  I  will  meet  him  to-night 
at  the  house  of  our  great  painter.  It  would  possi- 
bly compromise  him  to  seek  me  out.  You  have 
spoiled  your  mandolin.  I  will  send  it  to  our  work- 
room, we  have  a  very  cunning  artificer  who  will 
mend  it  as  cleverly  as  an  instrument  maker.  He 
invented  the  gold  thimble,  with  a  top,  the  real 
finger  hut,  for  he  saw  my  wife  embroidering  across 
the  court  and  pricking  her  delicate  finger  with  an 
open  thimble,  and  in  an  hour's  time  he  brought  me 
a  little  golden  helmet.  'It  is  for  your  lady,  Sire 
Van  Rensselaer,'  he  said.  You  may  judge  if  it 
pleased  my  wife  and  me  too,  for  there  was  a  for- 
tune in  the  invention." 

They  talked  together  a  little  longer.  The  mem- 
ory of  the  thimble  episode,  or  the  thought  of  the 
magnificent  jewels  which  he  had  secured  filled  the 


42  ANNEKE. 

merchant  with  serene  satisfaction,  and  he  discoursed 
of  the  pearls  of  remarkable  size,  and  among  others 
of  Sir  Thomas  Gresham's  famous  one,  valued  at  fif- 
teen thousand  pounds,  which  he  pulverized  and 
drank  in  a  glass  of  wine  to  the  health  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  to  win  a  wager  with  the  Spanish  am- 
bassador as  to  which  should  give  the  more  costly 
dinner. 

"A  wicked  deed,"  commented  Yan  Rensselaer, 
"  and  inspired  by  a  wicked  woman.  Ah !  women 
are  responsible  for  all  the  rash  folly  of  the  world." 

"  And  for  all  that  is  good,"  added  Willie.  "  Our 
valor  may  be  prompted  by  personal  reasons,  but 
surely  long  perseverance  in  drudgery,  wearisome 
labors,  patient  endurance  in  the  pursuance  of  high 
ideals,  all  that  continuance  in  well  doing  which  is 
so  irksome,  was  never  persisted  in  except  under  the 
direct  inspiration  of  some  good  woman." 

A  light  flashed  behind  the  older  man's  inscru- 
table eyes.  "  Surely  no  one  should  know  this  better 
than  I ;  but  you  are  young  to  have  found  it  out." 

"If  I  succeed  in  walking  straight  to  my  aim 
through  this  tangled  world  it  will  be  because  I  love 
a  noble  woman,  and  would  not  disappoint  her  faith 
in  me." 

Willie  spoke  with  such  evident  earnestness  that 
Kiliaeu  Van  Rensselaer's  jealous  guardianship  of 


A  PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE.  43 

his  granddaughter  relaxed.  "  The  boy  is  harmless," 
he  said  to  himself,  "  his  heart  is  already  in  the  keep- 
ing of  some  fine  young  woman  to  whom  he  will  be 
faithful." 

Willie  had  referred  to  his  mother,  but  he  had  un- 
wittingly deceived  Anneke's  grandfather,  and  had 
he  been  the  most  unprincipled  of  diplomats  he  could 
not  have  devised  a  more  skillful  ruse.  "  Kiliaen  is 
spending  a  long  time  over  my  curios,"  he  remarked 
suddenly.  "  He  said  you  were  fond  of  porcelains. 
Would  you  like  to  take  a  look  at  mine  ?  " 

He  led  the  way  across  the  court  to  his  private 
dwelling,  showing  Willie  into  a  room  crammed 
with  beautiful  objects.  Its  walls  were  covered 
with  gilded  and  stamped  leather,  against  which 
were  set  cabinets  of  marquetry  filled  with  treasures. 
They  were  piled  too  upon  the  table  in  the  middle 
of  the  room,  but  Willie  hardly  noticed  them,  for  his 
attention  was  instantly  fixed  upon  the  young  girl 
who  stood  behind  the  table  and  was  showing  a 
precious  sword  to  his  friend. 

Willie  stood  transfixed,  for  it  was  as  though  the 
sluice  gates  of  one  of  the  placid  Dutch  canals  had 
been  opened,  and  all  its  quiet  depths  agitated  into  un- 
wonted tumult  by  the  powerful  drawing  of  the 
mill  race  it  had  rushed  joyously  toward  the  level 
which  drew  it  so  irresistibly. 


44  ANNEKE. 

Anneke  was  dressed  very  simply,  a  close  white 
cap  hiding  her  flaxen  hair,  but  a  sweet  expression 
irradiated  her  fair  face  making  it  even  in  this  un- 
becoming costume  lovely  to  look  upon.  Willie  had 
never  seen  such  a  delicate  peach-blossom  complex- 
ion, which  deepened  as  he  gazed  into  the  most  ex- 
quisite rose,  or  such  bewitching  dimples  trembling 
at  the  corners  of  pouting  baby  lips,  and  in  the  mid- 
dle of  that  perfect  chin.  He  hardly  dared  look  her 
in  the  face,  but  when  he  finally  plucked  up  courage 
to  do  so  he  knew  why  the  pearl  merchant  was  so 
fond  of  light  blue  sapphires — for  they  exactly 
matched  Anneke's  eyes. 

The  two  Kiliaens  stood  by  and  watched  the 
meeting,  and,  as  an  apprehension  of  what  it  meant 
to  Willie  dawned  upon  them,  their  displeasure 
deepened. 

"  I  have  made  a  mistake,"  the  elder  man  confessed 
to  himself,  while  he  showed  the  young  men  politely 
out  of  the  court  gateway.  "  One  should  not  dis- 
play his  treasures  so  carelessly.  This  gay  gallant 
shall  never  darken  my  door  again." 

As  the  iron  gate  clanged  behind  them,  Willie 
muttered  something  to  himself. 

"  What  were  you  saying  ?  "  Kiliaen  asked. 

"  I  was  only  repeating  a  verse  from  the  Holy 
Scriptures,"  the  other  replied.  "  *  The  kingdom  of 


A  PEARL  OF  ORE  A  T  PRICE.  45 

heaven  is  like  unto  a  merchantman  seeking  goodly 
pearls  ;  who  when  he  had  found  one  pearl  of  great 
price,  went  and  sold  all  that  he  had,  and  bought  it.'  " 
Kiliaen  looked  at  Willie  and  scowled ;  he  knew 
that  his  reference  was  not  to  any  pearl  in  the  mer- 
chant's vaults.  "  You  are  not  worth  enough  to  buy 
that  pearl,"  he  said  bitterly,  then  his  voice  broke 
and  he  flung  his  arm  around  his  friend's  neck  in  the 
old  affectionate  way — "  but  we  needn't  quarrel  on 
that  account,  Willie  Nicoll,  you  are  not  worth 
enough — nor  I  neither." 


CHAPTER  III. 
AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE. 

My  house  within  the  city 
Is  richly  furnished  with  plate  and  gold  : 
Basins  and  ewers  to  lave  her  dainty  hands; 
My  hangings  all  of  Tyrian  tapestry, 
In  ivory  coffers  I  have  stuffed  my  crowns  ; 
In  cypress  chests  my  arras,  counterpoints, 
Costly  apparel,  tents  and  canopies, 
Fine  linen,  Turkey  cushions  boss'd  with  pearl, 
Valance  of  Venice  gold  in  needlework, 
Pewter  and  brass  and  all  things  that  belong 
To  house  or  housekeeping. 

— Shakespeare. 

FTER  this  occurrence 
Willie  was  in  no  haste 
to  return  to  the  univer- 
sity, for  he  was  a  res- 
olute young  man,  and 
not  inclined  to  take  Kiliaen's  de- 
spairing view  of  the  situation. 
But  before  he  could  feel  free  to 
prosecute  his  own  designs  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  have  the 
Prince's  acknowledgment  that  he 
had  received  the  money  loaned  upon  the  jewels,  and 
that  his  mission  was  accomplished. 

46 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  47 

Eembrandt's  house  on  the  Jodenbreed  straat  was 
easy  to  find,  for  at  this  time  it  was  one  of  the  best 
known  in  Amsterdam.  It  is  still  to  be  seen,  a  com- 
fortable mansion  in  its  day,  built  in  the  style  of  the 
Dutch  Kenaissance,  of  bricks  and  stone  with  arched 
windows  and  a  triangular  pediment  crowning  the 
fayade. 

If  Willie  had  been  surprised  by  the  richness  of 
the  interior  of  the  pearl  merchant's  home,  he  was  daz- 
zled by  Kembrandt's,  for  the  painter  had  appointed 
his  studio  with  an  artist's  taste  and  a  prince's  ex- 
travagance. This  extravagance  brought  him  later 
into  great  financial  straits,  but  at  this  time  no  man- 
sion in  Amsterdam  was  such  a  museum  of  paintings 
and  artistic  objects. l 

The  young  man  was  first  shown  by  a  maid  into  an 
anti-chamber  handsomely  furnished  and  hung  with 
a  profusion  of  paintings.  The  prevailing  tone  of 
the  background  and  hangings  was  olive  green.  The 
carved  Spanish  chairs  were  cushioned  in  green  vel- 
vet and  a  centre  table  was  draped  to  the  floor  with 
a  cover  of  rich  Tournai  tapestry.  Willie  started  as 
he  entered,  for  a  young  man  of  familiar  aspect  ad- 
vanced to  meet  him,  but  a  second  glance  told  him 

1  To  picture  to  ourselves  what  Willie  saw  when  he  entered  Rem- 
brandt's door  that  afternoon  we  have  followed  the  description  of 
his  house  given  by  the  eminent  archaeologist,  John  W.  Mullet. 


48  ANNEXE. 

that  he  had  been  deceived  by  his  own  reflection  in 
a  Venetian  mirror  in  an  ebony  frame.  On  the 
marble  ledge  of  a  rich  cabinet  stood  glass  beakers 
of  curious  shape,  but  Willie,  who  knew  nothing  of 
the  value  of  these  objects,  employed  his  moments  of 
waiting  in  studying  the  paintings. 

"Willie  had  sent  up  Vandyke's  letter  of  introduc- 
tion and  he  had  barely  time  to  note  these  interest- 
ing surroundings  when  the  servant  returned,  saying 
that  her  master  was  engaged  for  the  moment  with 
a  sitter,  but  would  soon  be  at  liberty,  and  that  in 
the  meantime  his  wife  would  receive  him.  "Willie 
followed  the  maid  to  the  large  drawing-room,  a 
veritable  collector's  museum,  the  walls  covered 
thickly  with  pictures,  some  very  rare  and  valuable. 
But  the  room,  though  elegantly  appointed,  bore 
marks  of  daily  use.  Near  the  window  stood  a  table 
bearing  etching  utensils,  and  a  woman's  work- 
basket  was  on  a  stand  near  by.  There  were  com- 
fortable easy-chairs,  but  "Willie  had  not  taken  his 
seat  when  a  portiere  was  thrust  back  and  a  flood  of 
sunshine  poured  in  from  a  southern  room,  Saskia's 
chamber,  the  brightest  spot  of  Rembrandt's  home. 
Willie  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  great  mirror,  which 
irradiated  the  light,  he  saw  that  the  hangings  and 
upholstery  were  all  of  Delft  blue,  the  carved  furni- 
ture of  rosy  cedar,  that  one  of  the  most  glowing 


REMBRANDT    AND    SASKIA. 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  49 

canvasses  of  Giorgione  hung  opposite  the  door, 
when  suddenly  he  forgot  all  other  pictures  in  the  be- 
witching little  figure  that  appeared  in  the  doorway. 
It  was  Saskia,  Rembrandt's  wife,  his  joy  and  in- 
spiration, whom  he  painted  unwearyingly,  not  only 
in  numerous  portraits  but  as  the  model  for  many  of 
his  ideal  compositions.  Of  a  wealthy  family  dis- 
tinguished in  politics,  literature  and  art,  her  mar- 
riage with  Rembrandt  introduced  him  to  patronage 
and  success.  She  was  his  mascot,  and  his  happiest 
as  well  as  most  prosperous  days  were  bound  up  in 
the  eight  years  of  their  wedded  life.  She  was  a 
bewitching,  willful,  changeable  little  creature,  of 
many  varying  moods,  each  rendering  her  more 
piquant  and  fascinating  than  the  last.  Rembrandt 
painted  her  in  them  all,  "  sometimes  as  a  young 
girl  archly  smiling,  then  as  the  queen  of  the  fairies, 
then  dressed  in  a  luxury  of  silks  and  jewels  or 
seated  on  her  husband's  knee,  or  presiding  over  his 
table  in  the  dignity  of  a  matron — in  all  these  pic- 
tures she  is  beaming  with  happiness  and  health, 
beautifully  dressed  and  wearing  a  profusion  of  jew- 
els." "Whether  he  painted  her  in  jovial  mood  or 
grave,  the  face  is  always  full  of  a  double  affection, 
the  loving  nature  of  Saskia  herself  interpreted  by 
the  love  of  her  husband.  It  was  a  childish  face, 
and  though  the  eyes  frequently  danced  with  mis- 


50  ANNEKE. 

chief,  Willie  saw  in  them  then,  and  many  times  af- 
terward, a  pathetic,  appealing  look,  which  he  could 
not  fathom.  She  loved  to  play  little  tricks  upon 
her  husband,  and  had  the  merriest  and  most  mu- 
sical laugh  in  the  world.  Sometimes  a  spirit  of 
teasing  possessed  her  and  she  would  lead  him  a 
nimble  race  about  the  house  before  she  granted 
him  the  kiss  for  which  he  begged,  and  at  other 
times  when  he  was  deeply  engrossed  in  his  paint- 
ing, she  would  plague  him  with  little  caresses  as 
though  jealous  that  he  could  find  enjoyment  in 
anything  in  which  she  had  no  part. 

She  looked  at  Willie  with  quizzical  but  kindly 
curiosity. 

"Rembrandt  said  that  you  came  from  his  old 
friend,  Vandyke,  whose  pupil  you  have  been.  I 
do  not  see  what  he  finds  to  admire  in  the  English 
women  that  he  paints,  but  I  make  no  doubt  that 
you  consider  them  handsomer  than  those  of  our 
country,"  she  remarked,  pettishly. 

"  Scarcely,  gracious  madam,  for  I  have  this  day 
seen  more  of  beauty  than  before  in  all  my  life." 

Saskia  tossed  her  head,  understanding  the  state- 
ment as  a  compliment  to  herself.  Willie's  atten- 
tion turned  a  moment  later  to  a  portrait  of  a  ma- 
jestic old  lady  and  he  exclaimed,  "  What  could  be 
more  dignified,  more  reposeful  than  this  portrait  of 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  51 

this  aged  matron  in  the  heavy  hood  and  cloak? 
How  placidly  her  folded  hands  rest  upon  the  Bible ! 
What  reserved  power  there  is  in  those  massive  fea- 
tures, and  in  the  calm,  steadfast  gaze  of  those  hon- 
est eyes !  I  would  like  to  have  known  that 
woman." 

"  You  would,  indeed,"  replied  Saskia,  "  for  she 
was  my  Rembrandt's  good  mother.  She  died  two 
years  ago.  It  was  his  first  sorrow."  She  was 
silent  for  a  moment  and  then  said  quickly  :  "  Will 
you  come  upstairs  with  me  and  let  me  show  you 
my  husband's  collections?  He  is  working  in  his 
little  study  at  the  end  of  the  suite,  and  by  the  time 
we  reach  its  door  he  should  be  ready  to  see  us.  If 
not,  you  have  a  good  stout  shoulder,  and  we  will 
force  the  door." 

The  apartments  through  which  Willie  was  now 
led  comprised  a  remarkable  museum.  First  they 
passed  through  a  room  filled  with  statues ;  Roman 
emperors,  busts  of  Homer,  Ariosto,  Socrates,  and 
other  plaster  casts  from  the  antique,  among  them 
the  Laocoon.  The  walls  were  covered  with  oriental 
weapons  and  armor,  and  beneath  these  trophies 
there  were  racks  holding  sixty  great  leathern  port- 
folios, filled  with  drawings,  studies,  engravings  and 
etchings,  many  of  which  had  cost  their  owner  large 
sums. 


52  ANNEXE. 

"  You  see,"  said  Saskia,  "  we  give  you  occupation 
for  many  hours  of  rummaging." 

"  I  would  consider  it  a  privilege,"  Willie  replied, 
"  if  I  may  come  from  time  to  time  during  my  stay 
in  Amsterdam." 

He  followed  her  through  four  other  rooms  all 
equally  rich  in  artistic  treasures  of  every  kind; 
porcelains  from  China  and  Japan,  Venetian  glass, 
oriental  instruments  of  music,  rich  tapestries,  bro- 
cades and  velvets.  One  room  was  hung  with  great 
lion  skins,  another  filled  with  costumes,  for  Kem- 
brandt  was  a  passionate  collector  of  curiosities, 
seeking  his  prizes  in  all  the  obscure  bric-a-brac 
shops  of  the  city,  and  never  haggling  at  the  price 
when  a  rare  or  picturesque  object  ensnared  his 
fancy. 

When  at  last  they  reached  the  door  of  the 
atelier,  at  the  end  of  this  superb  suite,  Saskia  struck 
a  mellow  toned  gong  which  hung  from  the  lintel, 
and  a  hearty  voice  bade  them  enter. 

Rembrandt  sat  before  his  easel,  "  a  strong  man  of 
ordinary  figure,  with  a  large  head,  not  handsome 
but  remarkable  when  excited ;  then  it  was  the  head 
of  a  lion  in  the  midst  of  his  flowing  mane.  The  nose 
was  thick  and  the  mouth  large  and  unrefined  with 
lips  firmly  closed  and  framed  in  a  stiff  horizontal 
moustache  and  beard — a  mouth  not  given  to  com- 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  53 

pliment."  From  under  a  slouched  black  velvet 
toque  looked  out  the  dark  eyes,  at  once  piercing  and 
expressive,  powerful  instruments,  as  has  been  well 
said,  revealing  to  the  mind  behind  them  more 
than  ordinary  vision  reveals  to  us,  and  in  turn 
telling  something  of  the  soul  whose  windows  they 
were.  The  light  which  shone  in  their  clear  depths 
was  untroubled,  for  this  was  the  happiest  year  of 
Rembrandt's  life,  the  culmination  of  his  success,  for 
he  had  just  finished  his  masterpiece,  "  The  Sortie  of 
the  Company  of  Frans  Banning  Cock." 

The  great  canvas  stood  in  the  studio  where  Rem- 
brandt was  working,  and  after  his  first  cordial 
greeting  he  drew  aside  the  curtain  which  concealed 
it.  Willie  expressed  his  appreciation  so  heartily 
that  the  painter  was  pleased  and  showed  him  many 
other  paintings  which  had  been  turned  with  their 
faces  to  the  wall  or  screened  from  view  by  drap- 
eries. 

Among  these  was  one  which  drew  from  "Willie  an 
exclamation  of  astonishment,  for  it  seemed  to  him 
that  with  the  exception  of  the  addition  of  the  figure 
of  an  old  man  on  the  left  it  was  a  portrait  of  the 
family  group  which  he  had  seen  around  the  table  in 
Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer's  office.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, a  portrait  of  the  Van  Rensselaers  but  Rem- 
brandt's masterpiece  called  the  Syndic  of  the  Cloth 


54  ANNEKE. 

Hall.  No  portrait  of  the  patroon  or  of  any  of  his 
sons  excepting  the  handsome  Jeremias  has  come 
down  to  us  ;  but  Rembrandt  was  a  painter  of  types 
as  well  as  of  individuals,  and  we  can  well  under- 
stand how  groups  of  able  and  successful  merchants 
of  the  same  city  and  period  might  have  borne  a 
striking  resemblance  to  each  other,  and  so  accept 
these  portraits  as  representing  the  Yan  Rensselaer 
family. 

Willie  had  told  his  hostess,  Mrs.  Johannes  Van 
Rensselaer,  that  his  return  was  uncertain,  so  that 
he  felt  at  liberty  to  accept  Rembrandt's  invitation 
to  dine  and  to  spend  the  evening. 

When  the  dessert  was  brought  in  Saskia  left  her 
seat  and  perched  herself  upon  her  husband's  knee 
like  a  spoiled  child,  and  while  he  cracked  her  nuts 
and  pared  her  fruit  she  fed  him  with  comfits,  with 
bewitching  little  graces  at  once  infantine  and  co- 
quettish. Rembrandt  lifted  the  tall  glass  of 
Rhenish  wine  high  above  her  head  and  called  upon 
his  guest  to  toast  her,  asking  at  the  same  time, 
"Did  you  ever  see  a  lovelier  subject  for  a  picture  ?  " 

"  Never,  and  only  one  that  could  in  any  way  ap- 
proach the  charm  of  Mistress  Saskia,"  Willie  replied 
gallantly,  "the  rosebud  face  of  a  young  girl,  the 
granddaughter  of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  the 
dealer  in  precious  stones." 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  55 

"  Hum,"  mused  Rembrandt,  "  I  know  the  grand- 
father. I  know  him  too  well,  for  I  owe  him  more 
money  than  I  can  well  afford  to  pay  for  that  rope 
of  pearls  which  the  evil  one  tempted  me  to  buy  for 
Saskia.  Is  his  granddaughter  really  so  beautiful  ? 
He  keeps  her  very  close.  She  is  rarely  seen  at  the 
merrymakings  of  the  young  people  of  this  city. 
They  say  that  he  has  high  ambitions  for  a  grand  al- 
liance for  her.  If  so  they  will  probably  be  realized, 
for  he  is  very  rich." 

From  the  dining-room  they  returned  to  the  suite 
of  studios  on  the  second  floor,  where  company  was 
already  gathering,  for  at  this  time  Rembrandt's 
house  was  the  resort  of  the  most  distinguished  and 
aristocratic  society  of  Amsterdam,  as  well  as  of  all 
artists  and  art  lovers. 

Among  those  who  called  on  this  especial  evening 
were  the  eminent  Professor  Nicolas  Tulp  whom 
Rembrandt  had  painted  in  "  The  Lecture  on  Anat- 
omy, the  Burgomaster  Jan  Six,"  Rembrandt's  dear- 
est friend,  and  with  him  his  guests  Prince  Frederick 
Henry  and  Prince  William  II. 

Prince  Frederick  immediately  spied  Willie  and 
taking  him  aside  asked  him  how  he  had  prospered 
in  the  disposal  of  the  jewels,  and  Willie  reported 
his  interview  with  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  the 
pearl  merchant's  intention  of  meeting  the  Prince 


56  ANNEKE. 

presently,  and  receiving  his  orders  for  the  delivery 
of  the  gold.  While  they  were  speaking  together 
Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  himself  entered  the  room. 
He  was  dressed  more  elegantly  than  when  Willie 
had  last  seen  him,  in  a  suit  of  black  velvet  with  lace 
ruff  and  cuffs.  His  face  was  so  distinguished  that 
Willie  felt  that  here  was  a  man  who  had  mistaken 
his  calling,  for  he  looked  a  statesman  and  was  more 
aristocratic  in  appearance  then  many  a  nobleman. 
He  was  accompanied  by  a  younger  and  more  sol- 
dierly appearing  man,  who  wore  a  velvet  doublet 
with  slashed  sleeves  and  a  great  felt  hat  adorned  by 
a  sweeping  plume.  A  scarf  of  orange  silk  fluttered 
across  his  chest  and  the  sword  at  his  side  had  known 
grim  service. 

Rembrandt  hastened  forward  to  greet  the  new- 
comers, and  after  presenting  Van  Rensselaer  to 
Prince  Frederick  and  his  son,  introduced  Willie  to 
the  patroon's  companion,  his  excellency  Pietrus  Stuy- 
vesant,  soon  to  sail  to  Curacao  as  director  of  the 
Dutch  possessions  in  the  West  Indies. 

Willie  found  the  Colonial  governor  extremely  in- 
telligent and  much  interested  in  England's  schemes 
as  to  the  colonization  of  America.  While  courteous 
to  Willie  personally,  he  showed  very  frankly  that 
he  considered  that  the  English  had  no  right  to  their 
colony  in  New  England. 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  57 

"  But,"  apologized  Willie,  "  the  little  band  of  emi- 
grants, who  formed  that  settlement,  were  virtually 
expatriated  outcasts  who  had  been  adopted  by  Hol- 
land. It  was  their  chief  desire,  as  I  am  informed, 
to  settle  under  the  auspices  of  the  Dutch  on 
Manhattan  Island,  and  to  continue  loyal  Dutch  sub- 
jects and  citizens  of  New  Amsterdam.  It  seems  to 
me  that  it  was  the  Dutch  West  India  Company 
who,  by  refusing  their  proposals,  forced  them  to 
form  a  colony  of  their  own." 

"  Yes,"  Stuyvesant  replied,  "  I  know  that  this  is 
quite  true,  and  I  know  why  they  were  not  accepted 
as  colonists  under  our  flag,  though  many  of  the  di- 
rectors of  the  company  recognized  that  they  were 
the  best  material  one  could  ask  for  pioneers." 

"  And  why  was  this  ?  "  Willie  inquired  with  in- 
terest. 

"  Because  we  did  not  want  them,  sir,"  Stuyvesant 
replied  with  emphasis. 

"  And  why  was  that  ?  Had  they  not  lived  among 
you  with  friendship  for  years,  until  they  had  learned 
your  language,  your  customs,  your  principles  ?  " 

"  True,  but  they  were  still  English,  and  English- 
men and  Dutchmen  can  only  be  allies  when  they 
are  fighting  Spain  ;  living  together  they  are  rivals, 
sir,  and  the  English  are  unscrupulous  rivals.  You 
emulate  our  principles,  and  adapt  yourselves  to  our 


58  ANNEXE. 

manner  of  life  it  is  true,  but  it  is  only  to  possess 
yourselves  of  our  advantages,  to  outstrip  us  in  race. 
I  have  fought  by  the  side  of  Prince  Rupert  under 
the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  a  dashing  good  fighter 
he  was,  akin  to  us  too  by  half  his  line  of  ancestry, 
and  educated  at  Leyden.  One  would  say  that  we 
might  trust  him  as  a  son,  but  his  heart  is  all  Eng- 
lish. He  was  only  learning  the  art  of  war  with  us, 
and  for  all  his  gallant  courage  he  cared  not  a  penny 
for  our  cause.  Nay,  sir,  there  never  was  an  Eng- 
lishman that  did.  There  never  was  a  man  of  Eng- 
lish birth,  however  kindly  adopted  and  cherished  by 
us,  who  would  not  take  the  English  side  when  the 
crisis  came.  What  do  I  say  ?  Nay,  I  will  make  one 
exception.  One  friend  I  have,  an  Englishman, 
who  came  over  with  our  English  allies  under  Lord 
Vere,  one  of  your  '  fighting  Veres.'  He  was  in  the 
engineering  corps,  and  master  of  the  works  of  forti- 
fication at  Fort  Orange,  and  he  did  his  work  soundly 
and  well,  not  all  from  love  of  his  profession,  as  I  be- 
lieve, but  partly  because  he  loved  our  people,  and 
chief  of  all  a  little  Dutch  maid,  niece  of  the  Burgo- 
master of  Woreden  for  whose  sake  he  gave  up  his 
country  and  became  one  of  us.  He  is  my  true 
friend,  and  for  my  sake  and  his  wife's,  I  believe 
Lion  Gardiner  would  stand  by  the  Netherlands  in 
any  event.  But  in  the  main  the  Dutch  West  India 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  59 

Company  were  right  when  they  wisely  decided  that 
if  they  should  allow  so  large  a  party  of  English  emi- 
grants to  settle  at  New  Amsterdam,  that  struggling 
colony  would  soon  be  absorbed  by  its  guests  and  be- 
come English.  ISTo,  sir,  we  did  not  want  you  at 
New  Amsterdam,  we  do  not  want  you  anywhere  in 
America.  We  are  on  our  guard  against  your  en- 
croachments in  the  West  Indies.  There  has  been 
some  fighting  between  us  there,  and  as  soon  as  we 
have  driven  out  our  common  enemy,  the  Spaniard, 
there  will  be  more." 

He  turned  abruptly  away  and  Willie  looked  after 
him  longingly.  There  was  something  so  honest 
and  hearty  in  his  frankness  that  he  was  sure  so 
good  a  fighter  must  be  also  a  true  lover. 

"  I  would  prize  your  friendship,"  he  said  to  him- 
self, "  and  if  ever  I  have  the  opportunity  I  will  try 
to  win  it."  Then  he  thought  of  Lion  Gardiner,  the 
one  Englishman  in  whom  Stuy  vesant  believed,  and  ac- 
knowledged to  himself  that  if  he  had  known  that  his 
friend  had  gone  out  to  America  to  help  the  English 
against  the  Dutch  his  faith  in  friendship  would  have 
been  utterly  shattered.  He  recalled  Gardiner's  hesi- 
tation when  the  proposition  was  first  made  to  him. 
"I  must  sleep  on  it,"  he  had  said,  "night  brings 
council."  And  Willie  as  he  lay  that  night  in  the 
little  guest-room  heard  his  host  pacing  the  floor  and 


60  ANNEKE. 

talking  in  low  earnest  tones  with  his  wife.  In  the 
morning  they  were  both  very  serious  but  they  had 
made  up  their  minds.  "  I  am  an  Englishman," 
Gardiner  had  said,  "  and  when  my  king  commands 
my  service,  I  must  go." 

"  And  your  wife  ?  "  Willie  had  asked.  • 
"  When  I  married  Lion,"  she  replied,  "  I  gave  up 
father  and  fatherland.  I  said,  '  thy  people  shall  be 
my  people,'  and  thy  country  my  country."  And 
Willie  knew  that  in  Gardiner's  place  he  would  have 
made  the  same  decision,  but  it  never  occurred  to 
him  to  decide  what  he  would  have  done  if  he  had 
married  Anneke  Van  Bensselaer  and  she  had  asked 
him  to  make  her  country  his  own.  As  he  awoke 
from  his  musings  he  noticed  that  though  Prince 
Frederick  had  passed  to  another  part  of  the  room 
his  son  was  still  in  conversation  with  Van  Eens- 
selaer,  and  that  the  young  Prince  was  beckoning 
him  to  approach.  Prince  William  was  speaking,  but 
he  laid  his  hand  familiarly  on  Willie's  arm  as  he 
said,  "  I  am  informed,  Herr  Van  Rensselaer,  that 
when  my  uncle,  Prince  Maurice  made  his  triumphal 
entry  into  Amsterdam,  and  the  city  was  illuminated 
in  his  honor,  you  caused  iron  cressets  to  be  filled 
with  blazing  pitch  and  placed  along  the  stone  walls 
in  front  of  your  courtyard,  and  also  along  the  roof 
of  your  house  although  in  doing  so  you  greatly 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  61 

risked  its  taking  fire.  And  I  have  further  heard 
that  Prince  Maurice  was  so  pleased  with  this  brill- 
iant display  that  he  called  you  from  the  mounted 
gentlemen  who  were  escorting  him  and  then  and 
there  granted  an  augmentatipn  of  arms  a  flaming 
cresset  for  a  crest  and  the  motto  '  Omnibus  Efful- 
geo,'  '  I  outshine  all.' " 

"  Your  Highness  has  but  the  partial  truth,"  Yan 
Rensselaer  replied  with  dignity.  "  I  have  pleased 
myself  with  the  belief  that  though  this  was  the  oc- 
casion on  which  the  crest  was  conferred  to  top  my 
crusading  ancestor's  shield  which  bears  the  cross  of 
the  Knights  of  St.  John  with  other  quarterings,  the 
decoration  was  given,  not  on  account  of  that  paltry 
display,  but  because  our  family  have  always  gladly 
placed  life  and  property  in  jeopardy  for  their  prince, 
and  have  lavished  both  at  the  hands  of  murderers 
and  robbers  in  return  for  their  loyalty  and  confi- 
dence." 

Willie  was  struck  with  the  dignity  of  Yan  Rens- 
selaer's  bearing  as  he  uttered  these  words.  While 
respectful,  there  was  nothing  obsequious  in  his 
manner.  He  stood  as  one  who  felt  himself  the 
equal,  perhaps  the  superior,  of  the  princeling  to 
whom  he  professed  his  allegiance,  and  was  pre- 
pared to  confer,  not  to  receive  a  favor. 

This  attitude  surprised  and  nettled  the  Prince, 


62  ANNEKE. 

who  replied  haughtily,  "  I  do  not  understand  you, 
Herr  Yan  Rensselaer." 

"  It  cannot  be  unknown  to  your  Highness,"  re- 
plied the  other,  "  that  my  father-in-law  and  senior 
partner  in  business,  while  waiting  in  an  anteroom 
of  the  palace  for  an  interview,  to  which  he  had  been 
called  by  your  uncle,  Prince  Maurice,  was  set  upon 
and  foully  murdered  by  the  guards  for  the  sake  of 
the  diamonds,  which  he  had  brought  as  a  gift  to  re- 
lieve the  pressing  necessities  of  his  prince." 

"  But  that  murder  was  quickly  punished  by  the  ex- 
ecution of  the  murderers,  and  their  booty  recovered." 

Van  Kensselaer  spread  his  hands  with  an  express- 
ive gesture.  "  It  was  recovered  by  your  uncle,  but 
that  crest  of  the  blazing  beacon  is  the  only  acknowl- 
edgment that  we  have  received  for  the  gift  of  a  life 
and  a  fortune." 

The  Prince  flushed.  "  And  yet  I  understood  you 
to  say  just  now  to  my  father  that  you  would  send 
us  this  sum  of  money  simply  as  an  expression  of 
love  and  loyalty,  and  that  you  held  the  jewels 
which  have  been  placed  in  your  care  not  as  security, 
but  to  be  kept  in  safety  and  delivered  freely  when 
called  for  by  their  owner." 

"  Exactly,  my  Prince.  My  wife  and  I  long  ago 
agreed  that  no  claim  should  be  made  for  the  lost 
jewels,  but  that  if  they,  or  their  equivalent,  should 


AT  EEMBEANDT^S  HOUSE.  63 

ever  be  offered  us  it  would  be  accepted,  as  a  part  of 
the  dowery  of  a  daughter  of  our  house." 

The  look  of  blank  astonishment  in  the  face  of  the 
Prince  showed  that  he  had  no  comprehension  of  the 
meaning  of  Yan  Kensselaer's  words. 

"  You  surely  do  not  recognize  in  the  jewels  placed 
in  your  care  any  of  those  which  you  have  lost,"  he 
exclaimed.  "  If  you  have  any  idea  of  pressing  a 
claim  to  them  this  young  man  can  and  will  an- 
nounce the  name  of  their  true  owner." 

"  It  is  not  necessary  for  any  names  to  be  men- 
tioned," Yan  Eensselaer  replied.  "  We  are  men  of 
honor  and  understand  each  other.  My  son  who 
has  the  gift  of  clairvoyance,  has  revealed  to  me 
that  the  jewels  in  my  vault  are  destined  to  belong 
to  your  future  wife,  and  your  Highness  shall  place 
that  crown  upon  her  head  as  soon  as  you  please 
after  your  marriage  when  you  will  receive  as 
further  dowery,  the  right  of  succession  for  your 
heirs  to  a  kingdom  beyond  the  seas." 

Yan  Rensselaer's  words  were  true  but  not  in  the 
sense  in  which  he  himself  understood  them.  Prince 
William  and  Willie  both  thought  that  he  had  rec- 
ognized the  jewels  and  that  he  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  fact,  not  as  yet  generally  known,  of 
the  Prince's  approaching  marriage  to  the  daughter 
of  Charles  I. 


64  ANNEKE. 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  say,"  the  Prince  replied,  "  and 
my  wife  shall  add  her  thanks  to  mine  for  your 
munificence,  but  you  will  understand  that  for  rea- 
sons of  state  my  betrothal  must  not  be  at  present 
publicly  announced." 

Yan  Rensselaer  bowed  deeply.  "And  when, 
may  I  ask,  does  your  Highness  propose  to  make  the 
acquaintance  of  your  future  wife  ?  " 

"  I  shall  begin  my  wooing  immediately.  "What 
have  I  said  ?  My  father  wishes  it  to  be  generally 
understood  that  I  am  still  here  in  Amsterdam  for 
the  purpose  of  having  my  portrait  painted." 

"  That  can  be  easily  arranged  with  our  friend  Rem- 
brandt, I  am  sure,"  Van  Rensselaer  replied  with  a 
smile,  and  he  placed  his  arm  within  that  of  his  host 
who  now  drew  near,  and  in  this  attitude  made  the 
round  of  the  studio,  complimenting  him  upon  his 
paintings. 

"  You  have  been  blabbing,  sir,"  said  the  Prince 
to  Willie  when  Van  Rensselaer  was  beyond  hear- 
ing. "  How  else  could  he  have  possessed  himself 
of  so  much  knowledge  of  my  affairs  ?  " 

Willie's  cheek  flushed  crimson.  "  Your  Highness 
certainly  cannot  so  misdoubt  me.  You  heard  the 
Herr  Van  Rensselaer  say  that  his  son,  the  inspired 
preacher  Nicolaus,  had  given  him  this  information. 
I  myself  heard  him  deliver  a  remarkable  prophecy, 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  65 

to  the  intent  that  the  troubles  now  pressing  upon 
my  royal  master  will  be  dissipated,  and  that  his  de- 
scendants and  yours  shall  reign  in  England." 

"  Surely  a  very  pleasant  and  useful  prophet,  he 
shall  be  called  to  the  court  and  speak  forth  his  in- 
spirations from  the  pulpit  of  the  royal  chapel. 
You  were  right  to  be  offended  with  me  for  my 
hastiness,  but  this  is  a  crazy  time  and  one  knows  not 
whom  to  trust.  There  are  many  in  England  who 
oppose  my  marriage ;  I  know  not  whether  it  will 
ever  be  solemnized.  I  would  that  I  might  visit 
England  incognito,  then  we  might  settle  everything 
before  your  boorish  Parliament  could  circumvent 
it,  and  I  could  woo  my  little  bride  like  a  simple 
gentleman;  but  this,  I  fear,  is  not  of  the  question, 
for  I  would  be  missed  here  in  Holland,  and  cu- 
riosity as  to  my  whereabouts  would  be  excited." 

"  If  I  can  ever  aid  you  in  any  way,"  said  Willie, 
"  I  am  at  your  service  as  at  my  own  King's." 

"  I  believe  you.  We  shall  see  you  again,  for  my 
father  has  arranged  with  Van  Rensselaer  for  you 
to  bring  us  the  gold,  which  we  shall  carry  to  King 
Charles  as  soon  as  our  yacht  arrives  in  port.  Fare- 
well until  then." 

In  the  prospect  of  the  royal  marriage  the  youth 
had  quite  forgotten  Anneke's  pretty  face,  and  in- 
deed he  had  never  thought  seriously  of  her.  The 


66  ANNEKE. 

glamour  which  floated  before  Van  Rensselaer's 
eyes  was  an  hallucination  destined  soon  to  melt 
away,  and  to  break  no  one's  heart  but  his  own  in 
the  disillusion. 

Later  in  the  evening,  as  "Willie  was  taking  his 
leave,  Rembrandt  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  ex- 
claiming — 

"  You  have  done  me  good  service,  my  lad.  I  am 
to  paint  the  portrait  of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer's 
granddaughter.  If  she  is  as  beautiful  as  you  de- 
scribe her  it  will  be  a  privilege  which  I  shall  prize, 
and  at  all  events  it  will  cancel  my  debt  for  Saskia's 
pearls.  What  can  I  do  for  you  to  show  my  grati- 
tude for  putting  me  on  the  track  of  this  transac- 
tion?" 

It  suddenly  occurred  to  Willie  that  instruction  in 
art  and  not  in  engineering  and  diplomacy  at  Ley  den, 
was  the  real  object  of  his  coming  to  Holland,  and 
he  begged  Rembrandt  to  enroll  him  among  his 
pupils. 

The  master,  flattered  by  the  supposed  apprecia- 
tion of  his  genius,  did  not  at  once  perceive  Willie's 
real  object,  and  accepted  him  graciously,  introduc- 
ing him  to  one  of  his  fellow-pupils,  Gerard  Dow, 
and  bidding  him  present  himself  the  following  day 
at  the  studio. 

Willie  felt  as  if  he  were  treading  on  air  as  he 


AT  REMBRANDT'S  HOUSE.  67 

walked  through  the  moonlit  streets.  It  was  not 
the  nearest  way  to  his  friend's  home,  but  he  passed 
through  the  Kalverstraat  and  around  through  the 
side  street  where  he  saw  the  old  merchant  unlock- 
ing the  ponderous  gate  by  the  light  of  a  link  carried 
by  his  servant.  Willie  gave  him  good-evening, 
sweeping  the  ground  with  the  plume  of  his  cava- 
lier's hat,  but  Van  Kensselaer's  scowl  asked  him 
plainly  why  he  was  prowling  so  near  his  premises. 
The  young  cavalier  laughed  gaily  as  he  heard  the 
gate  clang  behind  the  suspicious  burgher. 

"Shut  your  granddaughter  in  your  castle," 
Willie  chuckled  to  himself.  " '  Love  laughs  at 
locksmiths,'  and  I  shall  see  her,  I  shall  see  her  at 
Rembrandt's  house." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


RIVALS    IN   HONOR. 

But  Sir  Richard  cried  in  his  English  pride, 
"We  have  f  ought  such  a  fight  for  a  day  and  a  night 

As  may  never  be  fought  again  ! 

Sink  me  the  ship,  Master  Gunner,  sink  her,  split  her  in  twain  ! 
Fall  into  the  hands  of  God,  not  into  the  hands  of  Spain." 

— Tennyson. 

1HE  course  of  true  love 
was  not  of  a  mind  to 
make  any  exception  in  its 
usual  turbulency  in  Wil- 
lie's favor.  Rembrandt's 
pupils  had  their  quarters 
in  the  third  story  which 
had  no  communication 
with  the  rooms  in  which 
the  master  received  and 
•painted  his  sitters,  and 
although  Willie  presented 
himself  early  the  next  morning  and  remained  late, 
and  Anneke  began  her  sittings,  the  only  glance  he 
caught  of  her  was  from  the  window  of  her  grand- 
father's office  when  he  received  the  money  for  the 

68 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  69 

Prince.  He  had  no  longer  any  excuse  to  call  at 
Yan  Rensselaer's  house,  and  if  he  could  not  see  her 
at  the  house  of  the  artist  he  was  indeed  unfortu- 
nate. 

Moreover,  although  he  toiled  with  painstaking 
industry  it  was  not  possible  for  any  one  whose  only 
instruction  in  drawing  had  been  the  mechanical 
drafting  of  a  civil  engineer  to  satisfy  the  require- 
ments of  Rembrandt. 

The  master's  scrutiny  of  Willie's  first  attempt  to 
draw  from  a  cast,  drew  from  him  a  burst  of  un- 
controllable laughter,  which  quickly  gave  place  to 
indignation.  "  Am  I  the  teacher  of  a  primary 
school,"  he  asked,  angrily,  "  that  such  an  imbecile 
should  enroll  himself  as  one  of  my  pupils  ?  Leave 
my  house,  and  never  dare  to  boast  that  you  have 
had  Rembrandt  as  an  instructor,  for  I  will  teach 
you  nothing,  not  even  how  utterly  beneath  con- 
tempt is  the  atrocity  you  have  had  the  impudence 
to  show  me." 

Willie  shamefacedly  took  his  cap  and  left  the 
studio,  but  in  the  passage  he  met  Saskia  who  had 
overheard  her  husband's  stormy  outburst. 

"  Your  drawing  must  have  been  very  bad  to  have 
made  Rembrandt  speak  like  that,"  she  said.  "  Is 
that  it  in  your  hand  ?  Unroll  it  and  let  me  see  it." 

"  It  is  vile,"  Willie  replied,  obeying  her. 


70  ANNEKE. 

"  It  is  indeed.  Why  did  you  offer  my  husband 
such  an  insult  ?  You  must  have  known  that  you 
had  neither  the  knowledge  nor  the  talent  to  war- 
rant you  being  received  as  his  pupil." 

"  I  know  it,"  "Willie  replied  humbly  as  they  de- 
scended the  stairs,  "  it  was  abominable.  I  have  no 
excuse."  But  even  as  he  spoke  the  excuse  showed 
itself  in  his  flaming  cheek,  and  his  gaze  which 
losing  all  interest  in  Saskia  was  directed  toward  the 
anteroom  where  Anneke  and  her  maid  were  wait- 
ing their  summons  to  Kembrandt's  studio. 

"  May  I  speak  to  her  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Can  I  not 
remain  until  her  sitting  begins  ?  " 

Practiced  as  he  was  in  disguising  his  thoughts, 
Saskia  understood  him  in  a  flash.  "  Ah  !  "  she  ex- 
claimed meaningly.  "I  thought  you  had  some 
motive.  The  lessons  were  only  a  ruse.  You 
thought  yourself  vastly  clever,  when  you  were  only 
stupid.  You  might  have  known  you  could  not 
have  succeeded  without  my  help.  You  should  have 
taken  me  into  your  confidence.  No,  you  cannot 
speak  with  her.  The  maid  would  report  the  inter- 
view and  what  would  Mynheer  Van  Rensselaer 
think  of  me  ?  You  must  go,  but  I  am  sorry  for 
you,  for  I  have  a  great  sympathy  for  lovers." 

"  Think  out  some  scheme  for  me,  dear  madam. 
Let  me  grind  Rembrandt's  colors  and  clean  his 


KEMKRANDI    S    MOTHKR. 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  71 

palette,  let  me  perform  any  service  however  menial, 
anything  to  be  in  the  studio  while  she  is  sitting." 

"  The  boy  is  mad,"  Saskia  exclaimed  in  mock 
horror.  "  Go,  go  at  once,  and  do  not  fancy  you 
have  an  ally  in  me.  It  is  one  thing  to  be  sorry  for 
a  criminal  who  has  his  just  desert,  quite  another  to 
aid  and  abet  his  crime." 

So  saying  she  pushed  him  firmly  outside  the 
door.  Her  words  were  most  determined,  but  the 
hand  that  pushed  gave  him  a  little  farewell  pat 
upon  the  shoulder  and  there  was  something  in  that 
pat  which  filled  Willie's  heart  with  a  wild  unrea- 
soning hope  which  he  did  not  attempt  to  explain. 

On  his  return  to  Johannes  Van  Rensselaer's 
house  he  found  his  friend  Kiliaen  much  excited. 

"  I  have  just  had  a  talk  with  my  grandfather,"  he 
confided.  "  I  shall  not  return  to  the  university,  for 
I  am  off  in  a  week's  time  to  America.  You  are  not 
more  surprised  than  I,  but  the  old  gentleman  has 
taken  me  into  his  confidence,  he  has  more  heart 
than  I  thought,  and  it  is  touching  to  see  how  he 
loves  me,  what  faith  he  has  in  me.  God  grant  I 
may  not  disappoint  him.  Why  he  depends  upon  me 
to  take  his  place  when  he  is  gone  as  the  real  head 
of  the  Van  Rensselaer  clan,  for  we  are  a  clan,  not 
a  family.  Father,  as  his  eldest  son,  would  naturally 
succeed  him,  but  father  has  more  talent  for  business 


72  ANN  EKE. 

than  diplomacy,  so  father  is  gradually  to  relieve 
him  of  his  duties  as  head  of  the  business  in  Amster- 
dam, while  I  am  to  inherit  the  patroonship  and  be 
lord  of  all  the  American  estate.  He  made  me  swear 
fealty  to  the  Prince  of  Orange  as  my  suzerain,  as  all 
feudal  lords  do  to  some  prince,  and  he  made  me 
promise  to  hold  the  principality  for  him  with  my 
life,  never  to  suffer  the  encroachments  of  the  Eng- 
lish on  the  east,  the  French  on  the  north,  the 
*  Wilden '  on  the  west  or  the  West  India  Company 
itself  on  the  south  to  wrest  an  inch  of  soil  from 
these  possessions,  which  we  hold  only  in  trust  for 
our  Prince.  It  is  to  be  the  glory  of  our  race  that 
we  have  given  a  new  kingdom  to  the  house  of 
Orange.  In  turn  he  hinted  that  the  Prince  would 
confer  great  honor  upon  us.  But  when  I  asked 
him  what  that  honor  was,  he  told  me  that  the  time 
had  not  come  for  me  to  know. 

"  I  am  to  go  to  America  soon  to  receive  the  fealty 
of  my  serfs  and  to  learn  pioneering  under  my  Uncle 
Jeremias  and  our  trusty  Commissary,  Arendt  Yan 
Corlear.  Grandfather  himself  will  devote  his  en- 
tire attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  West  India  Com- 
pany. He  has  his  hands  full  there,  for  it  has 
dawned  on  that  astute  body  that  he  is  too  much  of 
an  autocrat  and  has  been  feathering  his  own  nest 
pretty  well.  They  do  not  understand  his  disin- 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  73 

terested  loyalty,  his  dread  of  base  democratic  ideas 
or  his  passionate  devotion  to  the  old  feudal  system 
of  a  kingdom  held  together  by  fealty  from  the 
lord  to  his  sovereign,  from  the  serf  to  his  lord,  of 
service  due  in  return  for  protection. 

"  The  West  India  Company  have  discontinued  their 
offers  of  privileges  to  colonizing  members,  but  they 
cannot  take  from  my  grandfather  the  rights  already 
granted  to  him  by  the  States  General.  The  party 
against  him,  however,  are  in  the  majority.  That  is 
just  the  way  of  the  world,  when  a  man  shows  him- 
self greater  and  stronger  than  the  common  herd,  all 
the  rest  of  the  pack  of  curs  band  against  him  to  pull 
him  down.  But  the  grand  old  man  will  give  them 
a  fight  yet.  Only  think,  they  have  dared  to  recall 
my  uncle,  on  my  mother's  side,  the  Honorable 
Wouter  Yan  T  wilier,  who  has  been  such  an  ad- 
mirable governor,  and  who  is  so  devoted  to  our 
interests,  and  they  are  sending  out  one  of  their  own 
creatures,  named  Kieft.  I  shall  spike  his  guns,  for 
my  grandfather  has  told  me  exactly  how  to  act.  I 
am  to  secure  his  friendship,  so  that  he  will  consent 
to  my  title  to  my  Uncle  Yan  Twiller's  lands,  and 
not  usurp  them  for  the  company.  It  is  a  pity  that 
his  private  estate  on  Nut  Island  was  called  Gover- 
nor's instead  of  Yan  Twiller's  Island,  for  there  is 
some  chance  that  Kieft  may  seize  it  as  the  apanage 


74  ANNEKE. 

of  the  governors."  So  young  Kiliaen  rattled  on,  for 
he  was  full  of  enthusiasm  for  the  career  opening  be- 
fore him,  and  with  the  egotism  of  youth  believed 
that  everything  that  interested  himself  must'  be  of 
equal  entertainment  to  his  friend.  Another  matter 
too  had  been  seething  in  his  heart,  until  he  felt  that 
he  could  contain  his  secret  no  longer ;  he  must  have 
a  confidant. 

"  Willie,"  he  said  after  a  pause,  "  I  have  yet  more 
to  tell  you,  the  reason  why  I  am  most  desirous  to 
go  with  my  Uncle  Jeremias,  and  to  identify  myself 
with  the  western  Yan  Kensselaers.  It  is  because 
for  family  reasons  my  father  thinks  it  most  de- 
sirable that  our  two  branches  of  the  house  should 
be  united.  My  Uncle  Jeremias  has  blazed  the  way 
for  me  in  the  wilderness,  but,  in  spite  of  my  right, 
as  eldest  son  of  the  eldest  son,  he  might  feel  a  re- 
sentment that  the  fruit  of  his  labors  should  descend 
to  me  instead  of  to  his  own  child,  Anneke.  There 
is,  however,  a  very  simple  solution  of  that  diffi- 
culty." 

"  For  you  to  marry  Anneke  ?  " 

"  There  you  have  guessed  it.  I  knew  you  would 
approve." 

"I  have  not  said  that  I  approved,"  Willie  an- 
swered frankly.  "  Is  this  your  grandfather's  plan  ?  " 

"No,  it   is  my   father's,  or  more  properly  my 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  75 

mother's,  and  Aunt  Maria's.  They  have  been 
courting  each  other  ever  since  aunt's  arrival.  But 
grandfather  cannot  fail  to  see  the  advantages  of  the 
scheme." 

"And  Anneke?" 

"  Oh !  I've  not  said  anything  to  her  yet,  she  is 
too  young;  but  when  she  returns  to  Rensselaer- 
wyck  I  shall  be  there,  and  with  every  advantage 
on  my  side  I  defy  all  rivals.  And,  Willie,  after  we 
are  married  you  must  come  out  to  us.  You  have 
been  like  a  brother  to  me.  I  was  saying  so  to  my 
mother,  and  you  are  to  stay  here  in  my  place  as 
long  as  you  care  to  pursue  your  studies  with  Eem- 
brandt.  But  when  you  have  finished  your  course 
at  the  university  come  to  New  Netherland  and  visit 
me.  Things  are  not  going  well  in  your  coun- 
try for  the  King's  party,  and  if  you  should 
ever  need  a  refuge  remember  you  have  one  on 
my  estate." 

"  Thank  you,  Kiliaen,  I  prize  your  friendship,  but 
my  career  was  marked  out  for  me  when  I  was  born. 
I  am  an  Englishman  and  a  royalist ;  if  the  King 
needs  my  service  he  shall  have  it." 

Kiliaen  flushed.  "  You  can  find  as  honorable  a 
career  with  us,"  he  urged,  "  either  in  trade  or  in 
arms.  That  is  why  we  chose  orange  for  our  na- 
tional color, — a  mingling  of  red  and  yellow,  red, 


76  ANNEKE. 

that's  blood  and  valor,  and  yellow  for  gold,  that's 
trade,  and  who  can  beat  the  Dutch  in  either." 

"I  know  of  your  nation's  exploits  in  trade," 
Willie  replied,  "  and  I  honor  the  enterprise  and  sa- 
gacity which  formed  the  East  India  Company,  and 
the  "West  India  Company  too,  but  your  trading- 
ships  must  yield  the  palm  to  our  fighting  ones,  for 
I  fancy  that  in  valor  we  English  can  match  you. 
Since  that  little  affair  of  the  Armada  you  will  have 
to  concede  to  us  the  armed  supremacy  of  the  seas." 

They  had  been  chatting  in  the  arbor  at  the  end 
of  the  garden,  and  had  not  heard  the  approaching 
footsteps  of  their  hostess  and  Governor  Stuyvesant 
until  his  deep  voice  rang  out  with  — 

"  What  is  this  heresy  I  hear  ?  Who  is  it  is  scoff- 
ing at  our  fleet  ?  Do  you  know  what  a  mere  trader, 
the  state's  ship  Half -moon  did  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  you  refer  to  the  exploit  of  Hendrik 
Hudson  in  discovering  and  taking  possession  of  the 
river  to  which  he  gave  his  name.  But  in  spite  of 
the  presence  of  Indians  you  would  hardly  call  that 
a  military  feat." 

"  I  do  not  refer  to  anything  we  have  yet  done 
in  New  Netherland,"  Stuyvesant  replied.  "I  am 
aware  that  we  have  still  a  stiff  piece  of  work  ahead 
of  us,  both  in  my  department  in  the  West  Indies 
and  along  the  river  which  the  Half-moon  explored. 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  77 

But  possibly  you  have  never  heard  how  that  gallant 
little  ship  humbled  the  dreaded  privateer  Spinola  at 
the  siege  of  Ostend  in  1602." 

"I  thought  the  Spaniards  conducted  that  siege 
by  land,"  said  Willie.1 

"  So  they  did,"  replied  Stuy  vesant.  "  Their 
trenches  made  a  semicircle  around  the  city  entirely 
cutting  off  all  communication  from  the  landward 
side.  But  what  was  it  enabled  the  inhabitants  to 
hold  out  for  three  years?  It  was  because  the 
Dutch  ships  held  the  Gullet  and  brought  droves  of 
cattle  and  whole  cargoes  of  bread  stuffs  and  wine  so 
that  the  poorest  fared  sumptuously,  and  marketing 
was  cheaper  in  that  beleaguered  town  than  in  any 
capital  of  Europe.  The  Spanish  commander  com- 
plained with  reason  that  he  could  not  be  expected 
to  reduce  a  city  whose  port  was  open  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  world,  and  whose  burghers  had  their 
bellies  lined  with  good  fat  capon,  while  his  own 
soldiers  were  grumbling  at  their  short  commons. 
At  last  Frederick  Spinola  who  was  already  famous 
as  a  privateer,  obtained  the  command  of  eight  great 
galleys  belonging  to  the  Spanish  navy.  He  was  to 
man  and  equip  them  at  his  own  expense,  but  was  to 

1  The  author  acknowledges  her  indebtedness  to  Motley  for  the 
stories  of  Holland's  naval  greatness  as  supposed  to  have  been  re- 
lated by  Stuy  vesant  in  Chapter  IV.,  and  also  for  the  exploit  of 
Heemskirk  given  in  Chapter  IX. 


78  ANN  EKE. 

have  all  the  booty  which  he  could  gain,  and  he 
swore  to  put  an  end  to  the  free  trade  of  Ostend. 
Each  of  the  galleys  had  for  its  motive  power  a  chain 
gang  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  slaves,  and  so  was 
independent  of  the  wind,  while  each  was  manned 
by  four  hundred  fighting  men.  On  the  way  Spi- 
nola  fell  in  with  some  English  ships,  which  sunk 
two  of  his  galleys,  but  he  fancied  that  the  six  gal- 
leys remaining  formed  a  fleet  abundantly  able  to 
perform  the  task  which  he  had  attempted,  of  hold- 
ing the  Gut  of  Sluys  against  all  comers. 

In  his  flagship,  the  St.  Lewis,  followed  by  the 
Morning  Star,  the  St.  John,  the  Hyacinth,  the  St. 
Philip  and  the  Padilla,  he  crept  along  in  the  dead 
of  night  hoping  to  slip  unobserved  into  the  Gut  of 
Sluys.  But  Captain  Peter  Mol,  in  the  Dutch  war- 
ship Tiger,  and  Captain  Lubbertson  in  the  Pelican, 
happened  to  be  cruising  in  the  channel  in  the  even- 
ing and  noticed  the  galleys  rowing  in  the  dusk. 
They  were  not  strong  enough  to  attack,  but  a  light 
breeze  springing  up,  they  scudded  away  and  gave 
the  alarm  to  Yice-Admiral  John  Kant,  who  was 
doing  sentinel  duty  in  the  Half-moon.  Very  cau- 
tiously Spinola's  galleys  crept  on  until  they  were 
off  Gravelines,  when  the  moon  rose  and  discovered 
them  to  another  Dutch  ship,  the  Mackerel,  which 
at  once  attacked  the  St.  Philip,  while  the  Half- 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  79 

moon  with  all  sail  set,  bore  down  butting  into  the 
galleys  one  after  another,  firing  broadsides  at  short 
range  and  sending  them  with  all  their  crew  to  the 
bottom.  Spinola  himself  fled  in  his  ship  to  Dun- 
kirk, but  all  of  the  others  were  sunk  or  driven  on 
shore  by  the  Half-moon  and  two  other  Dutch  ships. 
As  soon  as  victory  was  assured,  the  Dutch  boats 
were  despatched  to  pick  up  the  drowning  Spaniards, 
soldiers  and  galley  slaves  alike;  two  hundred  were 
saved,  but  about  three  thousand  perished. 

"  But  that  was  not  the  end,"  said  Willie.  "  If  I 
mistake  not  the  bold  privateer  was  not  to  be  dis- 
couraged by  his  reception,  and  visited  the  harbor 
of  Ostend  again." 

"  Ah  !  then  you  have  heard  how,  laboring  all  the 
winter  and  spring,  Spinola  gathered  together  a 
second  fleet  of  twelve  ships  and  three  thousand 
men,  and  how  just  before  sunrise  on  a  beautiful 
summer's  day,  the  great  galleys  were  discerned 
crawling  toward  Admiral  Joost  de  Moor's  blockad- 
ing fleet  of  five  small  ships.  Spinola  had  chosen 
a  morning  for  his  attack  when  there  was  not  a 
break  of  wind,  and  the  Dutch  ships  lay  motionless, 
becalmed  upon  a  glassy  sea.  The  humane  laws  of 
the  Dutch  republic  forbade  the  horrible  slavery  of 
the  galleys  to  captives  taken  in  war,  and  while  the 
Hollanders  loved  the  hardy  life  of  the  ordinary 


80  ANNEKE. 

sailor,  there  were  few  who  could  be  tempted  to 
submit  themselves  to  this  servitude.  Only  one  of 
Admiral  de  Moor's  ships,  the  Black  Galley,  com- 
manded by  Jacob  Michelzoon,  was  propelled  by 
such  human  enginery,  and  its  rowers  were  volun- 
teers, not  slaves  chained  to  their  oars.  The  brave 
Black  Galley  saw  the  sails  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet 
flapping  impotently  for  lack  of  wind,  and  leaping 
audaciously  forward,  challenged  the  foremost  of 
the  enemy's  ships. 

"Two  of  the  Spanish  galleys  immediately 
rammed  her  on  either  side,  but  the  Zeeland  sailors 
welcomed  the  Spanish,  as  they  attempted  to  board 
the  Black  Galley,  with  cutlass  and  marlin  spikes, 
and  driving  back  their  assailants,  clambered  along 
the  bowsprits  into  the  Spanish  galleys.  Other 
Spanish  craft  now  came  up  and  Captain  Michel- 
zoon was  killed,  but  Lieutenant  Hart  assumed  com- 
mand, and  the  fighting  went  on  on  the  decks  of 
the  three  galleys.  Little  by  little  the  crew  of  the 
Black  Galley  were  driven  back  to  their  own  ship, 
and  were  called  upon  to  surrender,  but  Lieutenant 
Hart  swore  that  rather  than  do  this  he  would  blow 
up  his  ship.  He  was  about  to  execute  his  threat 
when  suddenly  the  assailants  on  one  side  drew  off 
to  answer  the  fire  of  one  of  the  Dutch  ships  which 
had  drifted  into  range,  borne  imperceptibly  nearer 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  81 

by  an  auspicious  current.  At  the  same  time  on  the 
deck  of  his  flagship,  Frederick  Spinola  fell,  torn  to 
pieces  by  a  stone  shot  from  the  Black  Galley,  and 
perceiving  this,  the  Zeelanders  uttered  a  mighty 
cheer.  Consternation  siezed  upon  the  Spaniards, 
for  now  a  light  breeze  sprang  up  and  they  could 
see  Joost  de  Moor's  men  setting  their  sails,  and  the 
galleys  rowed  rapidly  away,  but  not  in  time  for  all 
to  escape.  Thirty-one  Dutchmen  were  killed  in 
this  encounter,  but  the  loss  of  the  Spaniards  was 
estimated  at  fourteen  hundred." 

"  It  was  a  gallant  deed,"  said  "Willie.  "  I  wish 
Captain  Michelzoon  might  have  lived." 

"  For  what  purpose  ?  "  asked  Stuy vesant.  "  He 
had  done  enough  for  his  country,  and  what  Eng- 
lishman can  you  name  who  did  as  much  ?  " 

"I  can  name  an  English  hero  who  did  more," 
Willie  retorted,  "  and  that  was  Sir  Richard  Gren- 
ville,  who  met  the  Spanish  fleet  alone  off  the  Azores, 
his  one  ship  against  fifty-three,  disdaining  to  fly  or 
to  surrender.  For  it  was  not  till  he  lay  dying  and 
the  wreck  under  other  command  that  she  struck 
her  colors.  You  know  the  story.  Can  you  match 
it,  Governor  Stuyvesant  ?  " 

"'Can  I  match  Grenville?'  Yes.  There  was 
Regnier  Klazoon,  who  commanded  a  ship  under 
Admiral  Haltain.  Haltain's  fleet  was  coasting 


82  ANNEKE. 

along  the  shores  of  Spain  in  1606,  waiting  the  ar- 
rival of  the  plate  fleet,  when  the  Spanish  Admiral, 
Don  Luis  de  Fazardo,  with  eighteen  great  galleons 
and  eight  galleys,  beside  many  smaller  vessels  ap- 
peared in  sight.  Admiral  Haltain,  after  a  brush 
with  the  Spaniards,  five  Dutch  ships  against  that 
formidable  fleet,  feeling  that  discretion  was  the 
better  part  of  valor,  showed  a  clean  pair  of  heels 
and  took  his  ships  uninjured  out  of  the  death-trap. 
Klazoon,  left  in  his  dismasted  ship,  was  repeatedly 
summoned  by  Don  Fazardo  to  surrender,  but  ob- 
stinately refused  to  do  so.  For  two  days  and 
nights  he  drifted  about  with  colors  flying  defiantly, 
firing  broadsides  whenever  the  Spanish  ships  came 
within  range.  At  last,  informed  that  his  ship  was 
sinking,  he  called  his  officers  and  men  together,  and 
amidst  their  applause  announced  his  resolution 
never  to  surrender.  Kneeling,  they  commended 
their  souls  to  God,  and  then  Klazoon  himself  ap- 
plied the  match  to  the  powder  magazine,  and  the 
ship  and  its  brave  defenders  were  blown  to  atoms. 
Two  mutilated  sailors  were  picked  up  by  the  Span- 
iards, but  these  only  lived  long  enough  to  tell  the 
heroic  tale." 

"  I  had  forgotten  Klazoon,"  said  Willie  ;  "  I  will 
admit  that  your  valor  equals  ours.  We  are  rivals  in 
bravery  and  obstinacy.  God  grant  that  the  Dutch 


RIVALS  IN  HONOR.  83 

and  the  English  may  never  be  pitted  against  each 
other." 

"  God  grant  it,"  assented  Stuy vesant  fervently  ; 
"  they  would  make  bad  enemies." 

"  Surely  we  never  could  be  enemies,"  young 
Kiliaen  exclaimed  impulsively.  "Rivals,  if  you 
will,  but  generous  rivals,  respecting  each  other, 
taking  no  mean  advantage  and  friends  always,  re- 
joicing in  the  other's  success." 

"  Amen  to  that,"  cried  Willie,  seizing  his  friend's 
hand.  "  Governor  Stuy  vesant,  I  call  you  to  witness 
what  Kiliaen  has  just  said.  Whatever  rivalry  there 
may  be  between  us  in  the  future,  whether  in  love 
or  war,  the  vanquished  will  not  grudge  the  victor, 
we  shall  still  be  friends." 


CHAPTER  V. 

UNDER   FALSE   COLORS. 

Why  she  is  a  pearl, 

Whose  price  hath  launched  above  a  thousand  ships 
And  turned  crowned  kings  to  merchants. 

— Shakespeare. 

ANY  a  man  in  Willie's 
place  would  not  have 
been  so  magnanimous, 
but   he   had   come  to 
think  that  Kiliaen  had 
both  advantage  and  the  better 
right  on  his  side.     What  was 
love  at  first  sight,  he  asked 
himself  to  Kiliaen's  affection, 
strengthened   by   family    ties 
and  family  ambition  ? 

Willie  had  completed  the 
business  which  had  brought  him  to  Amsterdam,  and 
the  Princes  had  departed  for  England  with  the  money 
obtained  for  the  jewels.  There  was  no  longer  any 
opportunity  for  him  to  meet  Anneke ;  even  Rem- 
brandt's house  was  closed  to  him,  and  he  was  about 
to  bid  farewell  to  his  friend  and  to  return  to  Leyden 

84 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  85 

when  the  wheel  of  the  fickle  goddess  Fortune  turned 
suddenly  in  his  favor. 

Early  in  the  morning  a  moon-faced  maid  brought 
Willie  a  note  which  caused  him  to  seize  his  hat  and 
run  after  her,  for  it  read  as  follows : 

"  FEIEND  NICOLL  : 

"  Come  to  us  as  soon  as  possible,  for  Rem- 
brandt  has  forgiven  you,  and  you  can  do  him  a  favor 
which  will  perhaps  be  not  unpleasant  to  yourself. 
"  With  all  good  intentions, 

"  Your  friend, 

"SASKIA." 

Arrived  at  the  artist's  home  "Willie  was  overjoyed 
to  find  that  Saskia  had  been  a  better  friend  to  him 
than  he  had  dared  to  hope,  for  she  had  not  only 
made  his  peace  with  her  indignant  husband,  but, 
without  betraying  his  secret,  she  had  taken  ad- 
vantage of  an  unexpected  turn  of  affairs  to  obtain 
for  Willie  the  very  opportunity  which  he  most  de- 
sired. 

Prince  William  had  called  to  say  that  he  must 
leave  Amsterdam  and  that  therefore  his  portrait 
must  be  given  up. 

When  Rembrandt  had  urged  that  the  face  was 
nearly  finished,  and  if  the  costume  were  left  it  might 
still  be  completed,  the  Prince  had  agreed  to  this 
arrangement.  But  as  Rembrandt  looked  over  the 


86  ANNEKE. 

list  of  his  models  he  could  find  no  one  to  wear  the 
Prince's  clothing  who  exactly  suited  him  both  in 
youthful  stature  and  in  distinction  of  bearing  until 
Saskia  came  to  his  assistance,  exclaiming,  "  I  know 
the  very  counterpart  of  the  Prince !  Master  Willie 
Nicoll  the  young  cavalier  who,  merely  to  enjoy  see- 
ing you  paint,  enrolled  himself  as  your  pupil,  though 
he  had  no  creative  talent  whatever." 

"  Surely,"  mused  Rembrandt,  "  now  that  you 
speak  of  it  there  is  a  resemblance,  though  the  young 
man  is  a  trifle  older  than  his  Highness.  But  do 
you  think  he  would  sit  for  me  ?  It  is  one  thing  to 
be  a  pupil,  quite  another  a  model." 

"He  told  me,"  replied  Saskia,  "that  he  would 
perform  the  most  menial  duties  for  you  if  you  would 
only- allow  him  the  privilege  of  watching  you  at 
your  work." 

"  And  if  this  were  not  so,"  said  Prince  "William, 
"  I  think  he  would  consent  if  you  asked  him  to  do  it 
as  a  favor  to  me.  Tell  him  to  remember  our  last 
conversation  and  he  will  understand  why  I  am  not 
only  willing  but  desirous  that  he  should  personate 
me,  (even  to  the  point  of  causing  it  to  be  generally 
believed  that  I  am  still  in  Amsterdam),  until  such 
time  as  he  shall  hear  that  the  business  of  which  I 
spoke  to  him  is  accomplished.  Allow  him  to  remain 
as  a  visitor  in  your  house  and  if  any  imagine  that  I 


A    TOWN    CANAL. 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  87 

am  your  guest  do  not  undeceive  them.  There  is  no 
harm  in  the  deceit,  'tis  but  a  jest  which  shall  be  ex- 
plained and  rewarded  when  I  come  again  to  claim 
my  portrait." 

"  So,"  replied  Kembrandt,  "  if  young  Master 
JSTicoll  will  understand  your  Highness'  meaning 
when  I  tell  him  all  this,  there  must  be  more  in  the 
young  man  than  I  thought." 

And  Saskia  had  replied  with  alacrity,  "Decid- 
edly you  are  right,  my  husband.  There  is  more  in 
that  young  man  than  you  think." 

Willie  comprehended  the  Prince's  desire  to  visit 
England  incognito,  and  in  order  to  lend  himself  to 
the  scheme  and  sink  his  own  identity  before  assum- 
ing that  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  he  bade  farewell 
to  his  hosts,  announcing  his  intention  to  return  to 
Leyden.  « 

Kiliaen  was  so  taken  up  by  the  prospect  of  his 
own  near  departure  that  he  was  easily  deceived, 
and  when  Willie  rode  away  sent  many  messages  by 
him  to  his  friends  at  the  university.  Having  made 
the  circuit  of  the  town  Willie  disposed  of  his  horse 
at  a  stock-yard  in  the  suburbs  and  returned  to 
Rembrandt's  house.  Here,  as  he  regarded  himself 
in  the  Yenetian  mirror,  tricked  out  in  the  Prince's 
inlaid  armor,  with  his  own  cavalier  "  love  locks  " 
framing  his  handsomely  cut  features,  he  could  but 


88  ANNEKE. 

admit  that  he  cut  a  very  personable  figure.  He 
was  older  than  the  Prince,  who  was  only  sixteen 
and  looked  younger,  while  Willie,  though  barely 
seventeen,  might  easily  have  been  taken  for  twenty. 

Kembrandt  was  evidently  well  satisfied,  for  he 
posed  him  upon  the  model-stand  and  fell  to  his 
work  with  the  avidity  of  a  hungry  man  attacking 
a  savory  meal. 

Willie  had  not  stood  long  before  Saskia  entered. 
"  Here  is  some  mistake,"  she  said.  "  Mynheer  Yan 
Rensselaer  has  come  with  his  daughter,  and  he  says 
you  gave  him  an  appointment  for  this  morning." 

"  True.  I  had  forgotten  it  but  I  am  in  full  swing 
now  and  cannot  change.  Send  them  away." 

"  Ah  !  that  would  never  do,  one  must  not  offend 
one's  patrons.  I  have  told  Mynheer  that  you  are 
engaged  in  painting  the  Prince's  portrait,  that  the 
sitting  will  soon  be  ended,  and  he  has  asked  to 
wait." 

"  They  may  wait,  certainly,  but  I  promised  not 
to  make  a  short  sitting.  I  shall  paint  as  long  as 
my  model  can  sustain  the  pose.  This  effect  is  too 
fine  to  lose." 

Saskia  slipped  away,  but  presently  Willie  with 
his  side-long  gaze  cast  over  his  shoulder  saw  her 
holding  back  the  tapestry  portiere  and  displaying 
the  studio  to  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer.  The  mer- 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  89 

chant  would  have  entered,  but  Saskia  placed  a  de- 
taining hand  upon  his  arm  and  touching  her  lip 
and  pointing  to  Kenibrandt,  who  was  working  furi- 
ously, indicated  that  he  could  not  be  disturbed. 

"Willie's  heart  was  in  his  mouth  when  the  little 
figure  of  Anneke  appeared  beside  her  father.  There 
was  a  whispered  colloquy,  and  then  Van  Rensselaer 
disappeared,  and  Anneke  and  her  maid  entered  the 
studio.  They  sat  down  demurely,  and  Rembrandt 
did  not  notice  her  presence  until  some  change  in 
Willie's  expression  caught  his  attention. 

Then  he  paused  and  shook  hands  kindly  with  her, 
apologizing  for  his  forgetfulness  of  the  appoint- 
ment. "  But  you  see  how  it  is,"  he  said,  jokingly, 
"  when  the  Prince  comes  every  one  else  must  yield 
the  way.  There,  my  dear  young  lady,  I  must  ask 
you  to  sit  on  the  other  side  of  the  room,  for  otherwise 
his  Highness  will  not  fix  his  eyes  in  the  right  direc- 
tion." 

So  they  sat  for  an  hour  with  a  world  of  un- 
spoken admiration  in  Willie's  quiet  gaze  under 
which  Anneke's  eyes  constantly  fell  and  as  con- 
stantly glanced  furtively  up  again  with  a  troubled 
questioning  in  their  innocent  depths. 

Rembrandt  grew  jovial  as  the  stress  of  his  in- 
tense working  fit  abated.  He  told  stories  and  sang 
songs,  and  challenged  Willie  to  do  the  like.  "  I 


90  ANNEKE, 

am  not  painting  your  face  now,"  he  said.  "You 
may  chat  freely  and  even  move  your  head."  But 
Willie  did  not  care  to  look  in  any  other  direction, 
and  he  could  think  of  only  commonplaces  to  say. 

So  the  time  passed  until  Kembrandt  threw  down 
his  brushes,  exclaiming,  "  Mortal  man  can  endure 
no  longer,  it  is  time  for  luncheon."  Saskia  had 
been  listening  behind  the  tapestry,  and  he  had 
scarcely  spoken  when  a  servant  trundled  in  a  small 
table  set  for  four.  Anneke's  maid  was  invited  to 
refresh  herself  below  stairs,  and  Kembrandt,  Saskia, 
Anneke  and  "Willie  lunched  cheerily  together.  The 
spell  of  the  sitting  was  broken  and  conversation 
was  free  and  merry. 

After  the  meal  was  over  Rembrandt  announced 
himself  ready  to  begin  Anneke's  portrait,  but  Wil- 
lie did  not  leave,  model  and  observer  simply  ex- 
changing places. 

"  Stay,  if  you  care  to  watch  me  paint,"  Rem- 
brandt had  said  carelessly,  "  and  in  return  do  me 
the  kindness  to  entertain  my  sitter,  and  keep  away 
that  expression  of  deadly  boredom  which  is  the 
portrait-painter's  despair." 

Again  Willie's  usually  ready  wit  failed  him,  no 
subject  seemed  worthy  of  introduction,  but  presently 
a  lucky  thought  struck  him,  he  would  make  Anneke 
talk,  and  he  asked  her  to  tell  them  about  America. 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  91 

At  once  the  little  maid  became  eloquent.  She  de- 
scribed her  home  at  Kensselaerwyck,  the  fortified 
manor  house,  with  its  loopholes  ready  for  defence 
against  the  savages.  She  interested  the  painter  in 
these  same  Indians,  and  promised  to  bring  him  a 
warrior's  suit  adorned  with  wampum  and  feathers, 
which  she  had  brought  to  Holland  with  her.  She 
told  of  the  fierceness  of  the  tribes  on  both  sides  of 
the  Hudson,  and  especially  of  the  Pequots  and 
Mohegans  on  the  east,  from  whom  they  were  pro- 
tected by  their  western  neighbors  the  still  more 
powerful  Iroquois. 

Willie  expressed  his  surprise  that  her  father 
should  allow  his  wife  and  daughter  to  live  in  such 
dangerous  surroundings. 

"  But  we  are  very  safe,"  Anneke  affirmed,  "  for 
we  have  the  protection  of  Fort  Orange  close  at 
hand,  where  the  West  India  Company  keep  a  garri- 
son of  which  the  brave  Captain  Dirk  Wessels  Ten 
Broeck  is  commander.  And  between  our  manor 
and  the  fort  there  is  the  dorp  of  Beverwyck,  quite 
a  flourishing  town,  for  my  grandfather  gave  orders 
that  his  fifty  emigrants  should  build  their  homes 
close  together  for  greater  safety.  Beside  the 
homes  of  the  settlers  there  is  a  church,  for  we 
have  a  minister  and  a  doctor  too,  and  the  com- 
pany's warehouse,  where  all  furs  are  sold,  and  our 


92  ANN  EKE. 

warehouse,  where  Arendt  Yan  Corlear  keeps  a 
store  for  the  barter  of  other  commodities,  and  a 
great  common  lodging  house  built  of  logs,  where 
the  new  settlers  who  come  out  from  Holland  can 
live  until  they  build  homes  of  their  own.  There  is 
a  windmill  for  grinding  grain  and  up  the  creek 
where  the  waterfall  is,  a  sawmill  and  a  brew- 
ery. Arendt  Yan  Corlear  says  that  without  that 
half  of  our  settlers  would  have  gone  back  to  Hol- 
land. The  Indians  have  their  camping  ground  out- 
side the  dorp,  where  they  are  allowed  to  build  tem- 
porary wigwams  when  they  bring  in  their  game 
and  peltries,  and  the  squaws  sell  baskets  and  ber- 
ries and  maple  sugar.  At  our  manor  we  have  gran- 
aries and  barns,  cattle  and  horses,  wagons  and  sleighs. 
We  have  skating  parties  in  the  winter  on  the  river. 
Arendt  Yan  Corlear  made  me  a  pair  of  skates  of 
beef  bones.  In  the  summer  we  take  trips  in  our 
sloop  and  visit  our  friends  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  There  is  a  settlement  at  Esopus,  which 
Mynheer  Philip  Pietrus  Schuyler  laid  out.  The 
Schuylers  are  friends  of  ours,  and  I  have  been 
there  to  visit  when  we  were  on  our  way  to  New 
Amsterdam.  We  laid  our  schooner  up  beside  their 
wharf  and  Roelof  Swarthout  arranged  a  barbecue 
and  showed  me  about  the  estate ;  but  it  is  not  as 
well  managed  as  ours.  No  one  has  as  fine  a  house 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  93 

as  my  father,  except  my  Grandfather  Oloff  Stevense 
Van  Cortlandt ;  I  mean  of  course  among  the  manors 
for  there  are  some  fine  houses  in  New  Amsterdam 
and  society  there  is  very  gay. 

"  Yes,  we  are  very  enterprising,  and  my  Grand- 
father Van  Eensselaer  says  it  is  astonishing  how  the 
colony  has  grown.  We  were  informed  that  the  Earl 
of  Warwick  had  obtained  grants  of  land  on  the  Con- 
necticut, and  to  circumvent  him,  Governor  Van 
T  wilier  has  bought  lands  of  the  Pequots,  and  built 
a  blockhouse  in  the  heart  of  the  eastern  wilderness, 
at  a  ford  of  the  Connecticut,  where  the  deer  cross  and 
our  hunters  often  go  and  have  named  it  Fort  Good 
Hope.  He  left  a  garrison  of  a  few  men  there,  and 
when  he  left  the  region  the  Governor  nailed  the  arms 
of  the  States  General  to  a  tree  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Connecticut  that  any  exploring  Englishmen  might 
see  that  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  country  for 
Holland.  My  grandfather  said  that  was  a  master 
stroke,  and  would  restrain  the  encroachments  of 
the  unscrupulous  English  of  the  Massachusetts, 
who  are  settling  upon  our  lands  and  stirring  up  the 
Pequots  against  us." 

Willie  smiled,  as  he  thought  how  little  respect 
Lion  Gardiner  would  have  for  the  insignia  of 
the  States  General,  left  in  solitary  grandeur 
upon  the  tree.  He  was  curious  to  know  more  of 


94  ANNEKE. 

the  strength  of  the  Dutch  fort  of  Good  Hope  at 
Hartford,  but  he  scorned  to  extract  information 
from  this  unsuspecting  girl,  and  he  purposely  led 
the  conversation  into  other  channels. 

The  next  day  was  equally  pleasant,  and  the  next, 
and  in  this  enjoyable  way  a  week  went  by,  a  golden 
week  in  Willie's  life,  in  which  he  became  more  and 
more  deeply  in  love  with  Anneke.  He  found  her 
mind  full  of  pleasant  surprises  and  not  so  unfurnished 
as  he  had  fancied  that  of  a  girl  brought  up  in  a  pio- 
neer region  must  be.  The  Dutch  emigrants  had  car- 
ried out  chests  of  books  from  the  presses  of  Leyden 
and  Antwerp,  and  Anneke  had  read  greedily  what- 
ever she  had  chanced  upon  in  the  libraries  of  the 
neighboring  manors, — a  nondescript  course  of  read- 
ing it  had  been.  She  had  read  theology  with 
Dominie  Johannes  Megapolensis,  and  had  brushed 
up  her  French  conversation  with  Huguenot  refugees. 

Anneke  spoke  English  too  very  fairly,  and  one 
day  when  Willie  asked  her  where  she  had  learned 
it  she  explained  that  her  tutor  at  Rensselaerwyck 
had  been  an  Englishman. 

"  His  name,"  she  said,  "  was  Love  Brewster,  and 
he  had  such  an  interesting  story.  He  came  to  New 
Amsterdam  from  Virginia  and  tried  to  get  a  posi- 
tion there  as  school-teacher,  for  he  spoke  Dutch 
fluently  and  had  studied  at  Leyden  University. 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  95 

There  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  in  New  Amster- 
dam, but  Governor  Yan  T  wilier  recommended  him 
to  my  father  and  he  came  to  Rensselaerwyck  and 
taught  me  and  some  of  the  other  children.  He  was 
very  gentle,  and  sad,  and  we  all  loved  him,  and  won- 
dered what  his  history  had  been.  One  day  he  told 
it  to  my  mother,  for  she  is  so  sympathetic  and  kind 
that  every  one  confides  in  her.  But  you  look  so 
absorbed  I  don't  believe  you  are  interested." 

"  Indeed  I  am,  Anneke,  greatly  interested,  for  I 
believe  that  I  have  the  very  rooms  at  Leyden  which 
Love  Brewster  occupied  when  he  was  a  student  at 
the  university.  They  look  upon  a  quiet  garden 
which  is  bounded  on  its  other  sides  by  the  Yeiled 
Nun's  Cloister,  the  University  Library  and  the  Don- 
ckere  Graft  (or  Dark  Canal)." 

"  "What !  "  exclaimed  Rembrandt.  "  Do  you  live 
near  the  Donckere  Graft?  I  know  that  garden 
well.  I  used  to  go  there  as  a  boy  to  paint,  for  I 
was  brought  up  in  Leyden.  Who  was  this  student 
of  whom  you  were  speaking  ?  Not  Love  Brewster, 
son  of  one  of  the  English  Puritan  exiles  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  replied  Anneke  eagerly.  "  He  must 
have  been  the  same." 

"Why  he  was  my  friend,"  replied  Rembrandt, 
"  I  taught  him  to  see  the  beauty  of  the  cloud  reflec- 
tions translated  into  a  lower  toned  harmony  by  that 


96  ANNEKE. 

amber  canal,  and  he  made  me  listen  to  the  chimes 
as  they  flung  harmonies  down  upon  us  from  the 
great  belfry  back  of  us.  Tell  me  all  you  know  of 
him,  for  I  am.  eager  to  learn  what  befell  him  in 
America." 

"  It  was  a  sad  story,"  Anneke  replied,  "  for  he 
loved  a  beautiful  girl  named  Patience,  who  went 
out  with  them  to  New  England,  and  she  did  not 
love  him  but  his  brother,  Wrestling.  This  brother 
had  gone  with  Sir  Walter  Kaleigh  to  find  El  Do- 
rado, but  he  did  not  come  back.  Finally  Love 
Brewster  went  in  search  of  his  brother,  but  he  only 
went  as  far  as  Virginia,  for  there  he  had  very  terri- 
ble news.  His  brother  had  attempted  to  come  back 
from  El  Dorado  to  New  England  and  had  stopped 
at  Jamestown,  and  just  then  there  had  been  a  great 
uprising  of  the  savages  and  he  had  been  massacred. 
So  he  had  returned  from  his  unhappy  quest ;  but 
when  he  reached  New  Amsterdam  his  heart  failed 
him.  He  could  not  bear  to  carry  such  news  as  that 
to  Patience  in  Plymouth,  and  so  he  stayed  with  us. 
Sometimes  his  conscience  upbraided  him  with  un- 
kindness  to  his  parents  in  not  returning,  but  when 
he  thought  of  his  brother's  betrothed  he  could  not 
bring  himself  either  to  go  or  to  write. 

"  At  last  a  very  wonderful  thing  happened,  and 
this  was  how  he  came  to  tell  my  mother  and  to  ask 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  97 

her  advice.  The  knowledge  that  Patience  did  not 
love  him  had  nearly  broken  his  heart,  but  not  quite, 
for  in  the  long  absence  from  her  the  wound  had 
healed,  and  the  wonderful  thing  which  I  am  going 
to  tell  is  that  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  a  pretty 
Dutch  maiden  at  Rensselaerwyck." 

"  Not  you,  Anneke,  surely  not  you ! "  exclaimed 
Willie. 

"  No,  surely  not  me,"  replied  Anneke ;  "  there  are 
other  maidens  in  New  Netherland,  I  would  have 
you  to  know,  and  this  Mr.  Brewster  and  his  wife 
are  both  a  great,  great  deal  older  than  I.  For  he 
really  did  marry  her.  My  mother  eased  his  con- 
science, and  gave  him  absolution  like  a  Catholic 
priest  after  his  confession.  But  she  made  him  do 
penance.  She  insisted  on  his  writing  to  his  mother 
and  telling  her  everything.  He  sent  the  letter  with- 
out date  or  letting  his  friends  know  where  he  was 
settled,  for  he  said  he  could  not  bear  their  re- 
proaches or  their  grief  when  they  knew  that  there 
was  no  longer  any  hope,  and  that  his  brother  was 
dead." 

"  But,"  exclaimed  Willie,  "  he  is  not  dead.  Wrest- 
ling Brewster  is  very  much  alive.  He  escaped  that 
Indian  massacre,  returned  to  New  England,  mar- 
ried Patience  and  is  living  there  now." 

"  How  do  you  know  this  ?  "  Anneke  asked. 


98  ANN  EKE. 

"  Because  I  saw  him  in  London  at  the  house  of 
the  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  was  an  old  friend  of  his. 
He  had  returned  to  England  with  Governor  Win- 
throp  to  obtain  a  charter  from  the  King  for  the 
Connecticut." 

"  The  Connecticut ! "  exclaimed  Anneke,  "  but 
that  river  and  the  lands  adjoining  belong  to  us." 

Willie  bit  his  lip,  for  he  realized  how  easy  it  was 
for  a  man  to  betray  state  secrets  to  the  woman  he 
loved.  Anneke  was  as  patriotic  a  Hollander  as  he 
was  an  Englishman,  and  he  wisely  forbore  there- 
after from  speaking  of  international  disputes. 

For  all  Anneke's  appreciation  of  the  advantages 
of  the  more  cultured  life  of  the  old  world  she  was 
homesick  for  America,  and  told  Willie  that  she 
counted  the  days  until  her  return  to  the  sweet  wild 
west. 

"  And  no  wonder,"  Willie  exclaimed,  "  for  you 
Have  made  me  in  love  with  it  simply  by  your  de- 
scription. I  vow  that  so  soon  as  I  can  I  too  will 
emigrate." 

"  Oh  !  no,  your  Highness  has  other  duties,"  An- 
neke replied  with  the  prettiest  and  most  deferential 
air  in  the  world.  It  always  smote  Willie  with  a 
pang  of  keen  self-reproach  and  made  him  feel  like 
the  most  double-dyed  hyprocrite  to  hear  her  refer 
to  his  princely  rank,  and  once  when  she  had  so  ad- 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  99 

dressed  him  he  could  not  contain  himself  but  cried 
hotly,  "  Do  not  call  me  your  Highness,  but  plain 
Willie."  Then  he  bit  his  lip  for  he  remembered  his 
promise  to  represent  the  Prince  until  the  English 
marriage  was  announced.  "It  is  a  great  familiar- 
ity," Anneke  had  replied,  "to  call  his  Highness 
Prince  William  only  Herr  Willie,  but  I  like  it  much 
better,  and  since  you  are  so  gracious  you  must  call 
me  Anneke." 

So  the  opportunity  for  avowal  passed.  Anneke, 
on  her  side  was  even  more  troubled  than  Willie. 
She  had  recognized  him  at  once  as  her  Cousin  Kil- 
iaen's  friend,  and  she  could  not  understand  why  he 
was  masquerading  as  the  Prince.  Kiliaen  had  told 
her  much  about  Willie  speaking  always  in  the 
most  enthusiastic  terms  of  his  high  sense  of  honor. 
He  had  told  of  their  close  friendship  and  even  of 
their  last  serious  conversation  when  they  had  prom- 
ised each  other  that  it  should  stand  even  the  test 
of  rivalry.  Anneke  could  not  believe  that  Willie 
had  assumed  this  disguise  simply  for  the  sake  of  ob- 
taining a  dishonorable  advantage  over  Kiliaen — 
still  less  to  deceive  her  grandfather  or  herself. 
What  then  could  be  the  explanation  ? 

She  had  only  seen  the  Prince  of  Orange  at  the 
ball.  At  the  time  it  was  such  a  splendid  vision  that 
his  personality  was  rendered  vague  by  the  very 


100  ANNEKE. 

glamour  which  surrounded  it.  She  knew  that  he 
was  in  Amsterdam  for  she  had  received  sonnets  and 
tokens,  all  of  which  she  had  conscientiously  given  to 
her  grandfather,  and  others  which  she  had  not  re- 
ceived had  been  intercepted  by  him. 

Her  grandfather  had  praised  her  for  this  conduct 
but  he  had  not  seemed  greatly  displeased.  Now 
that  her  maid  Grytje  faithfully  reported  that  she 
saw  the  Prince  every  day  at  Rembrandt's  house  he 
made  no  objection,  only  stipulating  that  she 
should  never  be  left  in  his  company  alone.  Anneke 
was  sure  that  Grytje  reported  their  conversation 
every  evening  to  her  grandfather  and  that  he  was 
satisfied  with  her  conduct.  Moreover  she  remem- 
bered that  on  her  first  introduction  to  the  studio 
her  grandfather  had  been  with  her,  he  had  stood  in 
the  open  doorway  and  had  seen  Willie  upon  the 
model  stand.  She  knew  that  her  grandfather  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  Prince.  He  had  spoken  of 
a  recent  interview  with  him  when  some  mysterious 
but  important  transaction  had  taken  place  be- 
tween them.  Surely  he,  as  well  as  Rembrandt, 
would  have  known  if  Willie  had  been  an  impostor. 
Suddenly  an  explanation  flashed  through  her  mind. 
Willie  must  indeed  be  the  Prince  of  Orange.  Kil- 
iaen  might  be  mistaken  as  to  the  identity  of  his 
friend.  The  Prince,  it  was  well  known,  was  entered 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  101 

as  a  student  at  Leyden,  though  Kiliaen  had  said 
that  he  had  never  met  him.  What  if  he  chose  to 
mingle  incognito  among  his  fellow-students  ?  Sure 
that  she  had  arrived  at  the  real  solution  of  the 
mystery,  Anneke  gave  it  no  further  anxiety,  but 
accepted  the  agreeable  acquaintance  which  fate  had 
sent  her  with  the  proud  consciousness  of  being  the 
possessor  of  a  mighty  secret,  discerned  by  her  own 
womanly  insight. 

Little  by  little  she  was  learning  to  care  for  this 
handsome  young  cavalier  more  than  she  realized, 
and  there  were  swift  glances  when  the  painter  was 
setting  his  palette,  little  love  songs  hummed,  which 
might  or  might  not  admit  of  personal  interpreta- 
tion, flowers  dropped  and  caught  up,  and  one  morn- 
ing the  inevitable  explosion. 

They  had  both  come  early,  and  Rembrandt  was 
not  in  his  studio.  Anneke  sent  Grytje  to  summon 
him  and  Willie's  arm  was  around  her  in  an  instant. 

"I  love  you,  Anneke." 

"  I  know  it,  Willie,  and  I  love  you." 

There  was  a  discreet  cough,  for  Grytje  had  re- 
membered the  master's  orders  and  had  gone  no 
further  than  the  staircase,  but  the  words  had  been 
spoken,  and  though  the  two  were  standing  at  some 
distance  from  each  other  when  the  maid  entered  the 
studio,  Anneke  arranging  her  hair  before  a  mirror, 


102  ANN  EKE. 

and  Willie  staring  at  the  ceiling  while  he  diligently 
fanned  his  flushed  face  with  his  broad-brimmed  hat, 
Grytje  knew  perfectly  what  had  happened. 

Kembrandt  wondered  why  his  sitters  were  so  si- 
lent. To  amuse  them  he  asked  Saskia  to  show  them 
her  jewels,  of  which  the  most  beautiful  were  the 
Van  Kensselaer  pearls,  though  she  also  possessed 
some  curiously  set.  Among  these  was  a  "jewel 
salad,"  a  brooch,  whose  centre,  a  light  green  table 
emerald,  was  supposed  to  represent  a  lettuce,  its 
garnishing  topazes  and  rubies,  drops  of  oil  and  vine- 
gar, while  seed  pearls  were  sprinkled  between  like 
grains  of  salt. 

"  It  is  copied,"  said  Rembrandt,  "  from  a  brooch 
designed  by  King  Philip  II.  to  amuse  his  queen." 

"  To  whom  he  also  gave  the  famous  Pelegrina  ?  " 
"Willie  asked. 

"  The  same,"  Rembrandt  replied,  "  the  pearl  of 
which  they  say,  that  those  who  own  it  must  shed 
many  tears." 

"  I  would  not  be  afraid  to  wear  it,"  said  Anneke, 
"  I  love  pearls.  I  have  never  owned  any,  but  grand- 
father says  I  shall  have  them  when  I  am  married. 
My  grandfather  was  talking  about  pearls  last  night. 
He  says  the  largest  come  from  Margarita.  He 
thinks  that  if  he  had  an  agent  at  Curayao  a  good 
smuggling  business  might  be  done  with  the  natives, 


UNDER  FALSE  COLORS.  103 

who  would  certainly  rather  be  paid  for  their  pearls 
by  the  Dutch  than  deliver  them  up  for  nothing  to 
the  Spaniards." 

"If  some  one  could  do  better  than  that,"  said 
Willie,  "  if  your  grandfather  could  be  put  in  posses- 
sion of  a  vast  cache  of  these  pearls  which  had  been 
hidden  by  the  divers,  do  you  think  that  he  would  be 
very  much  pleased  ?  " 

"  Pleased  !  It  is  his  darling  desire  to  control  the 
pearl  trade  of  Margarita.  O,  your  Highness,  if  you 
could  wrest  that  island  from  the  Spaniards  and 
make  my  grandfather  its  governor,  I  am  certain  that 
he  could  so  develop  its  resources  that  Holland  would 
receive  a  great  revenue  from  the  pearl-fisheries." 

"You  forget  our  agreement.  I  am  not  'your 
Highness '  to  you.  Only  Sir  Willie,  a  simple  cava- 
lier, who,  though  he  cannot  make  your  grandfather 
lord  of  Margarita,  will  do  his  best  to  fill  your  lap 
with  pearls,  which  you  may  if  you  choose  turn  over 
to  your  grandfather,  if  in  return  he  will  give  me 
possession  of  one  single  pearl  now  in  his  keeping. 
Will  you  let  me  tell  him  so  this  very  evening  ?  " 

Again  the  troubled  look  came  into  Anneke's  face. 
"  Why  is  it,"  she  wondered,  "  that  he  does  not  like 
to  be  called  by  his  title  ?  "  but  she  only  replied,  "  I 
do  not  like  bargains,  but  my  grandfather  does,  that 
is,  if  they  are  honorable." 


104  ANN  EKE. 

When  her  sitting  was  over  Willie  sprang  to  put 
her  cloak  about  her  and  one  of  its  buttons  caught 
in  the  fringe  of  his  scarf.  They  were  a  long  time 
disentangling  it  and  in  the  effort  the  button  came 
off.  "  It  is  a  good  omen,"  said  Willie ;  "  may  I  keep 
the  button  as  a  token  that  we  are  closely  at- 
tached ?  " 

She  nodded  gaily.  "  And  it  will  be  difficult  to 
part  us." 

"  But  you  were  the  one  to  break  away  first." 

"  I  left  my  proper  place  to  fly  to  you.  But 
seriously,  do  you  not  see  why  the  button  clings  to 
you  ?  It  is  the  decoration  which  your  uncle  con- 
ferred upon  our  family." 

Willie  examined  the  bauble,  and  saw  that  it  was 
a  tiny  basket  or  cresset  of  steel  filigree  containing  a 
ruby,  which  gleamed  like  a  coal  of  fire.  "  What  is 
it  that  the  Scripture  saith,"  he  asked,  "  that  love  is 
like  fire,  and  the  coals  thereof  have  a  most  vehement 
flame  ?  " 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   BUBBLE   BURSTS. 

All  I  had  to  give  I  gave  her.     First  my  kisses,  then  my  tears, 
But  the  little  one  would  have  them  not,  "What  use  are  they?  " 
she  said.  — Lord  Lytton. 


S  "Willie  was  taking  a 
walk  along  the  quays 
that  afternoon  he  was 
hailed  by  a  loud  "Yo 
ho,  my  hearty !  "  from 
his  old  travelling  com- 
panion, Captain  Mor- 
gan, who  seemed  to  be 
all  the  more  his  admir- 
ing friend  for  the  trick 
which  Willie  had  served 
him  in  parting. 
The  Captain  laughed  boisterously  as  he  smote 
Willie  upon  the  shoulder,  "  Ah  !  my  lad,"  he  cried, 
"  I  did  not  think  that  Henry  Morgan  could  have 
been  so  taken  in.  It  was  vastly  funny,  for  if  you 
cheated  me,  so  you  did  the  sheriffs,  and  I  forgive 
you  the  trick  for  the  sake  of  the  good  their  long 

105 


106  ANNEKE. 

faces  did  me  when  they  saw  the  inside  of  that 
cheese." 

"  But  I  told  you  plainly  there  was  nothing  in  it," 
protested  Willie. 

"  So  you  did,  and  so  I  told  them,  on  my  oath  as  a 
gentleman.  It  would  have  been  worse  for  me  if 
you  had  not  absconded  safely  with  the  jewels,  for 
though  I  made  a  good  run  and  a  good  fight,  they 
chased  me,  the  rogues,  into  a  wine  shop,  where, 
though  I  gave  one  a  broken  head,  and  tripped  the 
other  into  the  cellar,  protesting  all  the  time  that  I 
had  been  set  upon  by  highwaymen,  the  owner  of 
the  shop  called  in  the  authorities,  who  seized  the 
cheese  and  arrested  us  all.  We  were  taken  before 
the  Burgomaster,  where  my  assailants  explained 
that  I  was  the  robber,  making  off  with  the  Queen's 
jewels,  which  were  hidden  in  the  cheese.  I  swore, 
more  truly  than  I  knew,  as  I  have  said,  that  I  had 
never  seen  the  jewels,  and  that  the  cheese  box  con- 
tained only  the  remnants  of  the  luncheon  which  I 
had  eaten  publicly  on  shipboard.  When  it  was 
opened  in  court  I  was  ready  to  go  through  the  floor 
with  fright,  until  I  saw  the  empty  rind,  and  knew 
that  by  that  time  you  were  miles  away  with  your 
plunder.  Then  how  I  laughed  and  swaggered,  and 
the  rogues  were  fined  for  disturbing  the  peace ; 
though  the  judge  warned  me  that  I  would  some  day 


THE   l.ITTLK   MILL.       WILLEM    MARIS. 


THE  BUBBLE  BURSTS.  107 

die  of  an  indigestion  if  I  was  in  the  habit  of  eating 
so  much  cheese  for  luncheon. 

"  But  harkee,  Willie,  there  is  trouble  brewing,  for 
the  rogues  were  not  imprisoned,  only  fined,  and 
they  were  shrewd  enough  to  suspect  you,  for  when 
I  went  up  to  Leyden  to  find  you,  there  were  your 
rooms  sealed  by  the  officers  of  the  law,  who,  the 
janitor  told  me,  were  inside  rummaging  your 
papers." 

Willie  started,  but  recovered  himself.  "  There  is 
nothing  there  that  can  implicate  me,"  he  replied, 
after  a  moment's  thought. 

"  No  ?  Well,  that  is  lucky ;  but  they  might  have 
found  something  if  it  had  not  occurred  to  me  to  de- 
mand your  mail  for  you  at  the  post.  So  here  it  is, 
and  I  have  had  all  the  trouble  of  the  Evil  One  to 
find  you.  I  would  never  have  succeeeded  but  for  that 
same  janitor's  wife.  She  is  a  good  soul,  and  fond  of 
you,  Willie.  When  I  had  convinced  her  that  I  was 
your  friend  she  told  me  that  you  had  gone  to  Am- 
sterdam with  your  chum  the  young  Herr  Yan 
Eensselaer, — though  she  protested  to  the  officers 
that  you  had  not  returned  from  England." 

He  handed  Willie  a  letter  from  his  father,  and, 
breaking  the  seal,  the  young  man  read  the  follow- 
ing equivocal  communication : 


108  ANNEXE. 

"  MY  DEAR  SON  : 

"  Your  mother  and  I  are  proud  that  you  have 
so  well  passed  your  examinations,  having  had  the 
best  possible  reports  from  your  professor  and  re- 
ceived the  medal  won  in  your  last  competition." 

So  far  Willie  was  well  pleased,  for  this  was  the 
phrase  agreed  upon  to  convey  the  intelligence  that 
the  Prince  had  arrived  with  the  money  for  the 
jewels ;  but  as  he  read  on  he  was  filled  with  appre- 
hension. 

"  But,  dear  son,  we  are  alarmed  for  your  health, 
which  we  fear  such  close  application  to  your  studies 
has  seriously  impaired.  I  have  therefore  written 
to  the  Dean  of  the  University  asking  that  you  be 
allowed  a  vacation  for  travel,  and  we  advise  you 
on  receipt  of  this  to  depart  at  once.  We  have  con- 
sulted a  renowned  physician,  (the  physician  Willie 
knew  was  the  King)  and  he  prescribes  for  you  a 
long  sea- voyage,  which,  if  it  be  undertaken  at  once, 
he  promises  you  shall  return  with  a  good  stock  of 
health  "  (or  was  the  word  wealth  ?).  "  As  for  the 
interruption  of  your  studies,  have  no  regret,  for 
your  professor  before  mentioned,"  (Prince  William) 
"  stated  in  his  report  that  you  had  fully  completed 
your  course  in  his  department." 

By  this  Willie  knew  that  the  Prince  no  longer 
required  him  to  personate  his  character,  and  that 
he  was  free  to  depart. 

"  So  hoping  soon  to  hear  that  you  have  gone  as 
is  most  convenient,  we  rest  your  anxious  and  loving 

"PARENTS." 


THE  BUBBLE  BURSTS.  109 

This  was  all,  but  it  was  imperative.  "Willie  knew 
that  he  must  be  gone  at  once.  His  first  thought 
was  to  ask  Peter  Stuyvesant  to  allow  him  to  ac- 
company him  to  Curapoa.  Then  he  remembered 
his  dislike  of  the  English.  "  We  do  not  want  you, 
sir !  "  and  Captain  Morgan  awakened  him  from  his 
reverie  by  the  announcement,  "You  do  not  ask 
how  I  have  fared,  but  I  have  my  ship,  Willie,  and 
she  lies  off  the  mole  yonder.  I  would  have  sailed 
three  days  agone  but  I  was  anxious  for  your  health. 
Yes,  I  have  read  that  letter,  else  why  should  I  have 
troubled  myself  to  find  you  ?  We  are  off  at  day- 
break with  the  turn  of  the  tide.  So  it's  the  same 
old  question  over  again,  Will  you  off  with  me  to 
the  Spanish  Main  to  fill  your  sea-chest  with  the 
pearls  of  Margarita  ?  " 

"  I  have  only  the  same  answer,  Captain  Morgan, 
under  whose  authority  do  you  sail  ?  " 

"  Here  it  is,  Willie  Nicoll,"  the  Captain  replied 
triumphantly,  "  didn't  I  tell  you  I  had  sealed  or- 
ders. The  King  sent  back  my  application  through 
the  Admiralty  office  with  a  flat  refusal,  but  he  sent 
me  this  commission  privately,  with  orders  to  as- 
sume command  of  the  Black  Lady  lying  at  Delfs- 
haven.  As  soon  as  I  had  made  my  little  excursion 
to  Leyden  to  look  after  you  I  went  on  board  and 
sailed  around  to  this  port  to  provision  for  my  voy- 


110  ANNEKE. 

age.  Help  me  to  do  that,  and  I  promise  you  five 
hundred  per  cent,  on  your  '  investment.' ' 

"  I  thank  you,  Captain  Morgan,  and  I  will  go 
with  you,  if  you  will  have  a  boat  for  me  at  the 
old  wharf  at  nine  to-night.  I  have  only  to  bid 
farewell  to  my  friends  and  that  will  take  but  a  short 
time.  I  will  bring  what  money  I  possess  with  me." 

Willie  returned  to  Kembrandt's  house  and  ate 
his  last  meal  at  their  hospitable  board.  It  was  hard 
to  explain  that  he  must  leave  them,  for  the  portrait 
of  the  Prince  was  not  finished  (and  indeed  does  not 
appear  among  the  works  of  the  master  that  have 
come  down  to  us).  Saskia  was  more  sweetly  teas- 
ing than  usual  and  Willie  carried  to  his  death  a 
picture  in  his  memory  of  exactly  how  she  looked 
on  that  last  evening.  There  was  a  young  artist 
present,  William  Van  der  Velde,  and  she  wore  her 
Van  Kensselaer  pearls  in  his  honor.  "  You  are  my 
queen,  my  joy,  and  the  light  of  my  life,"  Kem- 
brandt  had  said  when  he  asked  her  to  bedeck  her- 
self with  her  jewels.  "  It  is  only  to  make  you 
more  beautiful  and  happier  that  I  labor,  that  I  live." 

A  wistful,  almost  pathetic  expression  came  into 
her  face.  "  Is  it  so,  Rembrandt  ?  then  I  promise 
you  never  to  be  less  happy,  never  to  grow  old  or 
ugly." 

Did  she  know  that  she  would  keep  her  promise, 


THE  BUBBLE  BURSTS.  Ill 

that  before  the  year  ended  Rembrandt  would  deck 
his  child  wife  in  her  costliest  robes,  and  closing 
the  casket  lid  over  his  chiefest  treasure,  turn  to  his 
desolate  home  to  grow  old  alone  ? 

As  Willie  walked  down  the  street  toward  the 
pearl  merchant's  mansion,  Yan  der  Yelde  accom- 
panied him.  He  was  a  painters  of  marines,  and  as 
"Willie  had  said  that  he  was  about  to  take  a  long 
sea-voyage,  the  young  painter  was  full  of  interest 
and  envy.  "  I  wish  I  were  in  your  shoes,"  he  cried. 
"  What  an  opportunity  for  fame !  I  would  ask  no 
better  studio  than  the  open  deck  of  a  ship." 

"And  I  would  gladly  change  places  with  you, 
and  remain  here  in  Amsterdam.  It  is  not  fame  I 
seek  but  fortune,  and  that  not  for  itself  but  for  the 
sake  of  one  I  love." 

Willie  was  not  unexpected  by  the  Van  Rens- 
selaers.  The  faithful  Grytje  had  to  the  best  of  her 
ability  reported  the  events  which  had  occurred, 
and  after  the  evening  meal  Yan  Rensselaer  had 
asked  her  to  send  his  granddaughter  to  him.  Anneke 
came  with  a  fluttering  heart,  but  a  determined  face, 
but  her  grandfather  met  her  very  kindly.  "It  is 
all  right,  little  girl,"  he  said.  "  I  have  foreseen  all 
this.  I  had  some  time  ago  an  interview  with  the 
Prince.  He  is  most  honorable,  most  magnanimous. 
Here  is  a  wedding  present  which  I  promised  him  to 


112  ANN  EKE. 

give  you  on  the  occasion  of  your  marriage.  "Would 
you  like  to  see  it  ?  " 

He  unlocked  the  vault  and  took  from  it  the  cas- 
ket which  had  seen  so  many  vicissitudes.  Anneke 
opened  it  and  stood  dazzled  by  the  brilliancy  of  the 
jewels. 

"  Put  them  on,  my  child,"  he  said.  "Let  the  old 
man  see  how  they  become  you."  He  clasped  the 
necklace  about  her  throat  and  placed  the  coronet 
upon  her  head  ;  and  gazed  at  her  with  love  and  ad- 
miration. There  were  even  more  emotions  mingled 
with  these ;  gratified  ambition,  a  sense  of  some- 
thing accomplished  for  which  he  had  long  labored, 
and  the  foretaste  of  a  more  abundant  triumph  still 
to  come,  were  all  bound  up  in  the  exaltation  with 
which  he  looked  upon  the  beautiful  girl. 

As  for  Anneke,  there  was  no  mirror  in  the  office 
in  which  she  could  see  herself,  but  even  if  there  had 
been  she  would  not  have  been  greatly  moved,  for 
her  eyes  were  dim  with  happy  tears,  at  the 
thought  of  womanhood's  highest  crown  which  was 
soon  to  be  hers.  So  they  were  standing  when 
Grytje  knocked  at  the  door.  "If  it  please  you, 
Mynheer,  the  portrait,  I  mean  the  gentleman  wishes 
to  see  you." 

"  It  is  he,"  said  Anneke,  "  he  told  me  he  was 
coming  to  you  to-night  to  ask  me  from  you." 


TEE  BUBBLE  BURSTS.  113 

"Then  stay,  Anneke,  let  me  give  you  to  him 
worthily  bedecked,"  and  as  Willie  entered  the  room, 
Van  Eensselaer  bowed  deeply  and  laid  his  grand- 
daughter's hand  in  that  of  the  young  man.  But 
even  as  he  did  so,  he  recognized  his  error  and 
pushed  him  back,  exclaiming : 

"How  is  it  that  you  are  here?  Where  is  the 
Prince?" 

"  I  am  here,  respected  sir,  to  tell  you  who  I  am 
and  the  errand  that  brings  me." 

"  But  the  Prince.     Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you." 

"  Are  you  not  the  Prince  ?  "  asked  Anneke. 

"  What  a  question ! "  exclaimed  Yan  Eensselaer, 
impatiently.  "  You  who  have  met  Prince  William 
daily  for  over  a  week,  you  who  but  now  told  me 
that  he  had  confessed  his  love  for  you,  should 
surely  know  your  lover." 

"  This  is  my  lover,  grandfather." 

A  startled  look,  not  of  anger,  but  of  fear,  came 
into  the  old  man's  face.  He  looked  from  one  to 
the  other  and  strove  vainly  to  speak,  and  Willie 
broke  in  impetuously  — 

"  I  know  that  it  must  be  a  shock  to  you  to  know 
that  any  man  has  dared  to  love  your  granddaugh- 
ter, and  that  I,  Willie  Mcoll,  am  that  man.  I  am  the 
son  of  a  poor  courtier,  with  no  present  fortune,  but 


114  ANN  EKE. 

with  a  heart  to  strive  and  to  wait  until  I  can  bring  one 
before  I  come  again  to  claim  this  maiden  as  my  wife." 

"  Silence,"  exclaimed  Van  Rensselaer.  "  Have 
you  the  effrontery  to  confess  that  to  steal  my 
granddaughter's  affection,  you  disguised  yourself  as 
the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  thus  deceiving  me,  wooed 
her  under  false  pretences  ?  " 

"  No  and  yes,  honored  sir.  I  am  not  the  Prince. 
I  wore  his  clothing  to  please  Rembrandt.  I  had 
no  thought  of  deception." 

"  But  you  did  deceive  me,"  Anneke  broke  in  pas- 
sionately. "You  made  me  think  that  you  were 
the  Prince,  and  you  let  my  grandfather  think  so. 
You  could  have  told  me  the  truth  a  hundred  times, 
if  you  had  wished.  Do  you  imagine  that  my  grand- 
father would  have  suffered  me  to  remain  in  your 
company  if  he  had  imagined  you  were  simply  a 
poor  English  student  ?  " 

"  I  imagined,"  "Willie  replied  bitterly,  "  that  I  was 
loved  for  myself  and  not  for  any  hereditary  claims." 

Anneke  flushed.  "  And  I  imagined,"  she  re- 
plied with  intense  scorn  in  her  voice,  "  that  I  was 
loved  by  a  man  of  honor." 

"  Well  said,  my  child,  and  worthy  of  your  race," 
exclaimed  Van  Rensselaer  proudly.  "  I  shall  see 
Prince  Frederick  and  demand  that  you  be  punished 
for  so  misrepresenting  him." 


THE  BUBBLE  BURSTS.  115 

"If  his  Highness,  Prince  William,  is  informed  of 
jour  charge,  he  can  and  will  explain  why  my 
tongue  was  tied,  and  I  could  not  confess  before  this 
evening  that  I  am  not  the  Prince." 

A  swift  hope  flared  for  an  instant  in  Anneke's 
heart.  "  If  there  is  any  honorable  reason,"  she 
implored,  "  tell  it  now." 

Willie  put  his  hand  to  his  head.  It  was  true 
that  he  had  received  his  release  from  his  post,  but 
he  could  not  feel  free  to  tell  why  he  impersonated 
the  Prince  until  his  marriage  to  the  Princess  Mary 
was  publicly  announced.  His  hand  fell  and  he  re- 
plied, "  I  cannot,  Anneke,  I  have  already  said  too 
much." 

"  Insult  not  our  Prince,"  cried  Van  Eensselaer, 
"  by  insinuating  that  there  is  any  understanding 
between  you.  Leave  my  house  instantly  and  let  us 
never  hear  from  you  again." 

Willie  bowed  deeply.  "  Is  this  your  last  word  to 
me,  Anneke  ?  Can  you  not  trust  me  even  though 
appearances  are  against  me  ?  " 

She  could  not  look  at  him,  for  she  felt  her  anger 
dying  out,  and  a  wild  longing  drawing  her  to  him 
in  spite  of  her  belief  in  his  unworthiness. 

"  If  you  had  only  told  me,"  she  murmured,  then 
her  mood  changed,  and  she  exclaimed  scornfully, 
"  but  no,  you  tried  to  bribe  me,  you  lied  to  me.  I 


116  ANN  EKE. 

will  believe  you  true  when  you  keep  your  promise 
and  fill  my  lap  with  pearls,"  and  turning  from  him 
she  threw  her  arms  around  her  grandfather's  neck 
crying,  "  No,  no,  I  never  loved  you.  I  could  never 
have  loved  anything  so  base." 

Willie  went  out  of  the  room  with  his  reason  tot- 
tering. He  strolled  about  the  streets  not  knowing 
what  he  did.  After  a  time  he  remembered  vaguely 
his  promise  to  meet  some  one  at  the  old  wharf.  He 
forgot  that  he  was  to  return  to  Kembrandt's  house 
for  his  luggage,  but  he  finally  stumbled  down  to 
the  waterside.  The  sailor  was  still  waiting  impa- 
tiently with  the  boat,  though  it  was  long  past  the 
time  set  for  the  rendezvous. 

Willie  fell  over  the  thwarts  as  he  tried  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  stern  and  as  the  sailor  assisted  him, 
grumbling  about  young  blades  who  sat  all  night 
carousing,  he  replied  sadly,  "  That's  all  over,  my 
man.  I've  been  intoxicated,  but  I  am  so  no  longer." 


CHAPTEE  VII. 


WITH   THE   BUCCANEERS  AND   THE   MAROONERS. 

There  were  forty  craft  in  Aves  that  were  both  swift  and  stout, 
All  furnished  well  with  small  arms  and  cannon  all  about 
And  a  thousand  men  in  Aves  made  laws  so  fair  and  free 
To  choose  their  gallant  captains  and  obey  them  loyally. 

And  we  sailed  against  the  Spaniard  with  his  hoards  of  plate  and  gold, 
Which  he  wrung  with  cruel  tortures  from  the  Indian  folk  of  old. 
Likewise  the  merchant  captains  with  hearts  as  hard  as  stone 
Who  flog  men  and  keel  haul  them  and  starve  them  to  the  bone. 

Oh  !  palms  grow  high  in  Aves  and  fruits  that  shine  like  gold, 
And  the  coliberis  and  parrots  were  gorgeous  to  behold. 
And  the  negro  maids  in  Aves  from  bondage  fast  did  flee 
To  welcome  gallant  sailors  a  sweeping  in  from  sea. 

— Charles  Kingsley. 

'APT  A  IN    MORGAN 
was    impatiently   wait- 
ing Willie's   arrival  to 
weigh  anchor  and  sail 
for  the  Spanish  Main, 
as  the  West  Indies  had 
been  rightly  designated  for 
two  hundred  years. 

It  was  nearly  a  century  and 
a  half  since  Columbus  had  dis- 
covered America,  and  land- 
ing on  San  Salvador  claimed 
the  West  Indies  and  the  still  unknown  continents 

117 


118  ANN  EKE. 

of  the  Western  Hemisphere  for  Spain.  And  for  all 
this  time  although  other  countries  had  grumbled 
and  questioned  the  right  of  Spain  to  these  great 
possessions,  they  had  not  been  wrested  from  her. 

True,  Portugal  claimed  Brazil.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
had  given  his  life,  and  his  great  heart  had  broken 
in  the  vain  endeavor  to  establish  England's  right 
to  a  portion  of  this  domain.  But  for  the  struggling 
colonies  at  Jamestown,  Yirginia,  and  in  New  Eng- 
land on  the  mainland  of  North  America  none  could 
have  foretold  the  triumph  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race, 
and  Spain  after  her  two  centuries  of  discovery,  of 
limited  colonization  and  unlimited  theft  was  still 
in  fact  the  mistress  of  the  New  World.  Little 
Holland  through  the  enterprise  of  her  West  India 
Company  was  disputing  her  sovereignty  of  the  seas 
and  insisting  on  trading  ports  for  her  merchant- 
men, and  a  few  adventurous  Englishmen  and 
Frenchmen  had  established  themselves  in  the  lit- 
tle island  of  St.  Christopher  or  St.  Kits,  but  this 
was  so  trifling  a  menace  to  her  dominion  that  Spain 
hardly  roused  herself  to  take  notice  of  the  fact. 
The  Dutch  had  only  begun  to  think  of  colonizing. 
Their  trading  port  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson 
had  opened  the  way  to  the  formation  of  the  New 
Netherlands ;  but  in  the  West  Indies  these  islands 
of  St.  Martin's  in  the  northern  Caribbees,  and  of 


A    MAN    IX    ARMOR.       VAN    DYCK. 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  119 

Curacao,  Buen  Ay  re  and  Aruba  on  the  coast  of 
Venezuela,  were  such  insignificant  points  in  the  vast 
area  of  New  Spain  as  to  be  almost  invisible. 

At  length  the  Spaniards  noticed  the  little  colony 
at  St.  Kits,  and  descending  upon  the  island  expelled 
the  French  and  English  settlers,  who  took  refuge  on 
a  still  smaller  island,  that  of  Tortuga,  on  the  north- 
ern coast  of  Hayti  or  Hispaniola  as  it  was  then 
called.  Here  the  French  cultivated  small  planta- 
tions, and  the  English  became  hunters  of  the  wild 
cattle  with  which  the  neighboring  large  island  of  His- 
paniola abounded.  The  beef  thus  obtained  they 
cured  and  sold  to  sailors,  and  as  time  went  on  they 
acquired  such  a  reputation  for  this  commodity  that 
ships  stopped  regularly  to  provision  at  the  island. 
The  meat  was  cured  by  smoking  over  fires  fed  by 
the  boucan  nut,  and  was  thus  said  to  be  boucaned, 
and  the  hunters  so  preparing  it  were  termed  buc- 
caneers. They  were  a  wild,  rough  set,  like  our 
western  cowboys,  hunting  and  ranging  the  plains 
and  camping  together,  generally  by  twos,  sworn 
comrades  nursing  each  other  when  sick  or  wounded, 
and  often  showing  great  devotion  for  one  another. 
The  port  on  the  island  of  Tortuga,  however,  was  a 
lawless  place,  the  refuge  of  malcontents  and  male- 
factors. There  were  gambling  and  drinking  and 
every  kind  of  vice,  and  in  time  hunting  seemed  a 


120  ANN  EKE. 

slow  way  of  earning  money,  and  some  of  the  buc- 
caneers made  marauding  expeditions  in  Spanish 
towns  in  Hispaniola  and  in  Cuba.  These  were  un- 
fortunately so  successful  that  large  numbers  banded 
together  under  popular  leaders,  ships  were  taken 
and  refitted,  and  the  buccaneers  became  pirates. 
Their  hatred  for  the  cruelty,  treachery,  and  rapac- 
ity of  the  Spaniard  was  their  excuse  for  these  at- 
tacks ;  but  they  soon  rivalled  their  enemies  in  all  of 
these  particulars,  and  robbed  inoffensive  merchant 
ships  of  every  nation,  not  excepting  their  own,  with 
equal  impartiality.  Such  a  nest  of  corsairs  was  the 
Island  of  Aves  of  which  Kingsley  wrote.  For  as 
piracy  became  more  general  other  resorts  were 
chosen,  but  Tortuga  was  the  first  and  for  many  years 
the  most  important  of  these  haunts  of  wickedness. 

It  was  to  Tortuga  that  the  Black  Lady,  Captain 
Morgan's  new  ship,  was  bound ;  and  the  Captain 
was  no  better  than  the  worst  of  the  pirates  there. 
Willie  had  guessed  that  his  honesty  was  dubious 
from  the  first,  and  he  revealed  himself  unmistakably 
the  first  day  after  they  set  sail. 

The  ship  was  ploughing  merrily  down  the  channel 
when  the  Captain  called  Willie  into  his  cabin,  re- 
marking, "  Now,  Willie,  my  boy,  you  may  give  me 
your  money  and  we  will  run  into  Dunkirk  and  get 
some  more  stores.  By  my  agreement  with  his 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  121 

Majesty  I  have  my  own  expenses  to  pay  and  we 
are  not  half  provisioned." 

"You  are  welcome  to  all  I  have,"  Willie  replied, 
"  though  I  fear  it  will  not  go  far,"  and  he  tossed  his 
money-belt  on  the  table. 

The  Captain  counted  the  sovereigns  with  a  scowl 
that  grew  darker  as  he  realized  the  meagre  amount. 
""What,"  he  exclaimed,  "did  you  do  with  the  money 
which  you  obtained  from  the  jewels  ?  " 

"  I  sent  it  to  the  King  by  Prince  Frederick,  as 
agreed  upon,"  Willie  replied  simply. 

The  Captain's  face  grew  absolutely  livid  with 
rage.  "Fool,  swindler,"  he  yelled,  "did  you  ac- 
tually allow  such  a  fortune  to  slip  through  your 
fingers?" 

"  I  may  have  been  a  fool  in  simply  performing 
my  duty  honorably,"  Willie  replied,  "  but  I  fail  to 
see  how  I  deserve  the  name  of  swindler." 

"  Do  you  suppose  that  I  would  have  taken  you  on 
this  trip  if  I  had  not  supposed  that  you  would  be  of 
some  use  to  me?  What  can  you  do?  Will  you 
swab  decks,  or  fight  ?  " 

"  I  expect  to  fight  the  Spaniards,  and  I  can  bear 
a  hand  at  work  when  necessary.  But  as  we  seem 
to  be  mistaken  in  each  other  I  will  be  obliged  to 
you  if  you  will  land  me  at  the  first  port." 

The  Captain  swore  steadily  for  several  minutes, 


122  ANN  EKE. 

and  having  expended  his  wrath  in  that  way  began 
to  laugh.  "  A  fine  joke,"  he  muttered.  "  You  have 
played  it  on  me  twice,  Willie  Nicoll;  you  are  a  sharp 
one,  you  are.  So  you  thought  it  a  good  game  to 
curry  royal  favor  by  sending  that  money  straight 
to  the  King.  Don't  you  know  that  when  you  come 
back  from  this  voyage  there  may  not  be  any  King 
on  the  throne  of  England  ?  " 

"  I  would  have  done  it  all  the  same  if  I  had  been 
as  certain  of  his  failure  as  I  am  of  his  success." 

"  So,  you  are  certain,  are  you  ?  "Well,  you  have 
been  in  a  position  to  know  more  about  it  than 
Henry  Morgan,  and  if  when  we  do  come  back  the 
King  should  happen  to  be  on  the  throne,  it  might 
not  be  such  a  bad  idea  to  have  some  influence  at 
court.  Harkee,  Willie,  I  believe  that  you  are  a  fel- 
low who  will  stick  to  his  word.  If  I  forgive  you 
these  tricks,  and  mind  you  I've  hung  men  for  less, 
will  you  stand  by  me  when  we  come  back  ?  " 

"  I  would  rather  you  would  set  me  ashore  when 
you  stop  to  provision." 

"  Oh !  would  you  ?  Well  you  may  have  the 
chance.  As  you  cannot  furnish  the  money  to  pur- 
chase provisions  it  will  be  quite  useless  for  us  to 
put  in  to  any  port,  and  we  will  simply  overhaul  the 
next  merchantman  we  meet  and  fit  ourselves  out 
from  her.  We  will  kill  the  crew,  if  they  offer  re- 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  123 

sistance ;  if  they  surrender  we  will  put  them  in  irons. 
I  have  men  enough  to  manage  both  ships,  and  we 
will  maroon  our  prisoners,  that  is  land  them  on  the 
first  desert  island  we  touch,  and  you  shall  be  wel- 
come to  go  ashore  with  them  if  you  like." 

Willie  was  silent ;  he  resolved  within  himself  that 
if  the  ship  attacked  were  English  he  would  accept 
the  fate  of  its  survivors ;  but  it  so  happened  that 
they  fell  in  off  the  Azores  with  a  Spanish  ship  laden 
with  plate  (silver),  and  he  had  no  compunctions  of 
conscience  in  assisting  in  making  her  a  prize.  He 
bore  himself  so  gallantly  in  this  action,  fighting  by 
the  side  of  Morgan,  that  the  latter  was  completely 
won,  and  promised  Willie  to  make  war  only  on  their 
national  foes,  the  Spaniards,  if  he  would  remain 
with  them. 

The  Captain's  home  was  a  lonely  blockhouse, 
half  hidden  on  a  sheltered  cove  off  the  coast  of  Tor- 
tuga,  and  Morgan  steered  directly  for  this  point  in- 
stead of  for  the  chief  town  of  the  island.  It  was 
well  for  him  that  he  did  so,  for  in  going  ashore  he 
found  only  ashes  and  charred  embers  where  his 
iiome  had  been.  Carrion  crows  were  sailing  slowly 
above  a  thicket  of  bamboo  at  a  little  distance,  and 
skirting  it  they  found  a  spot  all  trampled  and 
broken,  which  showed  that  his  fugitive  servants  had 
been  followed  and  massacred.  Their  bones  had 


124  ANNEKE. 

been  stripped  by  the  crows,  and  it  was  impossible 
for  Captain  Morgan  to  tell  whether  Mookinga,  the 
Voudoo  witch,  had  been  killed  with  the  others.  At 
all  events  she  had  vanished,  and  with  her  the  hope 
of  obtaining  the  pearls  buried  by  the  divers  at  Mar- 
garita. 

When  Willie  asked  who  could  have  dared  to  do 
this,  the  Captain  replied  that  it  was  plainly  the 
work  of  the  French  settlers,  between  whom  and  the 
English  buccaneers  there  had  always  been  trouble. 

"  There  are  a  number  of  planters  in  the  valley 
beyond  that  range  of  hills,  whose  potatoes,  tobacco, 
yams  and  sugar,  I  have  frequently  looted ;  but 
that  they  should  dare  to  retaliate  even  in  my  ab- 
sence, amazes  me.  We  will  row  back  to  the 
ship  for  the  night,  and  to-morrow  wipe  these  cow- 
ardly miscreants  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

But  Morgan  was  not  to  execute  his  threat.  They 
had  scarcely  returned  to  the  boats  when  they 
noticed  that  one  of  their  ships  was  crowding  can- 
vas, and  that  the  other  was  signalling  to  them  to 
hasten  on  board.  As  soon  as  they  reached  the  ship 
they  saw  the  cause  of  alarm.  A  French  man-of- 
war  of  large  size  had  come  in  sight  and  was  giving 
chase  to  their  convoy  the  captured  Spanish  mer- 
chantman. "  Ah  !  that  is  why  my  French  neighbors 
were  so  impudent,"  Morgan  exclaimed.  "  There 


ITH  THE  BUCCANEERS,  125 

is  a  French  fleet  in  port,  and  they  have  decided  to 
drive  the  English  from  the  island.  We  must  scud, 
for  we  are  not  strong  enough  to  meet  them  in  open 
fight." 

The  French  cruiser  chased  them  far  to  the  west, 
capturing  their  convoy.  Avoiding  Cuba,  Morgan 
coasted  the  northern  shore  of  Jamaica,  which  also 
belonged  to  Spain  at  this  time,  but  was  not  so  well 
settled  as  the  larger  island.  Finding  a  sheltered  in- 
let, tortuous  enough  to  hide  the  ship  in  its  windings 
between  palm  groves,  he  ran  in,  intending  to  re- 
main in  hiding  until  the  French  cruiser  had  given 
up  the  hunt  and  then  venture  out  again.  Unfor- 
tunately in  the  first  bend  of  the  inlet  he  ran  the 
ship  on  a  bar,  and  although  concealed  from  his 
pursuers,  was  unable  to  leave  his  hiding,  for  his  ves- 
sel was  held  fast  in  the  grip  of  the  treacherous 
sands. 

Fearing  the  malaria  of  the  lowlands  and  that 
they  might  at  any  time  be  discovered,  Morgan  and 
his  sixteen  men  followed  a  little  river  which  emptied 
into  the  inlet,  and  after  tramping  for  miles  along 
its  bed,  discovered  a  point  in  a  rocky  gorge,  which 
they  felt  sure  they  could  hold  against  all  invaders. 

Here  they  built  a  blockhouse  of  palm  logs  ;  and 
to  this  point  they  transferred  provisions  and  con- 
veniencies  from  the  ship.  It  was  hard  work,  and 


126  ANNEKE. 

could  only  be  done  in  moonlit  nights,  for  the  days 
were  too  warm,  and  the  moist  air  was  as  enervat- 
ing as  that  of  an  orchid  house.  They  had  an  abun- 
dance of  food,  for  beside  the  ship's  stores,  pigeons 
flew  over  in  flocks,  the  shore  swarmed  with  turtle, 
and  thousands  of  crabs  scuttled  over  the  sand. 
These  the  sailors  ate  too  freely,  and  presently  half 
of  their  number  were  ill.  They  lacked  vegetables, 
and  though  there  were  Spanish  settlements  further 
west  they  dared  not  approach  them,  and  so  they  re- 
mained in  their  rocky  ravine  waiting  for  their  sick 
to  recover,  and  hoping  after  that  to  organize  a 
hunting  party. 

One  day  a  startling  discovery  was  made  by  a 
member  of  their  party, — the  charred  remnants  of  a 
camp-fire  near  their  fort.  A  small  party  of  men  had 
passed  that  way  recently,  for  their  trail  was  fresh 
on  the  river  bank,  and  showed  that  they  had 
marched  down  toward  the  shore. 

There  was  no  proof  that  the  blockhouse  had  been 
discovered,  for  it  was  situated  at  an  angle  in  a  side 
ravine.  As  many  days  went  by  and  there  were  no 
further  signs  of  the  passing  of  any  human  being, 
the  alarm  occasioned  by  this  incident  subsided,  and 
it  was  thought  that  the  party  must  have  been  a 
band  of  hunters. 

The  rainy  season  was  approaching,  the  migration 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  127 

of  the  pigeons  had  long  since  ceased  and  Morgan 
with  the  strongest  of  his  men  set  out  to  the  plains 
to  kill  some  of  the  wild  cattle  and  boar,  and  pro- 
vision their  fort  with  meat  against  the  time  that 
they  would  be  shut  in. 

One  afternoon  while  the  hunting  party  was  away, 
Willie  was  exploring  the  upper  part  of  the  ravine, 
when  he  heard  in  a  thicket  at  a  little  distance,  the 
sweet,  rich  note  of  a  bird  hitherto  unfamiliar  to 
him.  He  listened  attentively,  and  after  a  time  he 
heard  it  again,  prolonged  and  apparently  nearer. 

It  was  so  full  and  clear  that  he  imagined  it  must 
be  quite  large,  and  possibly  of  the  mocking-bird 
species  ;  and  he  stole  nearer,  skirting  the  thicket  in 
hopes  that  he  might  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  flash  of 
its  wings.  The  bird  seemed  to  understand  his 
curiosity  and  to  be  possessed  with  a  spirit  of  mis- 
chief in  luring  him  on,  for  presently  the  plaintive 
notes  came  from  a  grove  further  up  the  ravine.  Or 
was  it  another  bird  of  the  same  species  answering 
the  first  ?  Impulsively  Willie  obeyed  the  strange, 
melancholy  call,  and  dashed  on  toward  the  grove  ; 
but  an  instinct  of  caution  made  him  pause  before 
penetrating  its  jungle.  At  that  instant  of  hesita- 
tion the  sweet,  alluring  cry  sounded  from  the 
midst  of  a  clump  of  flowering  shrubs  close  at  hand, 
and  to  frighten  the  bird  into  showing  itself  he  fired 


128  ANNEKE. 

into  the  bush.  His  shot  was  answered  by  a  shriek, 
and  a  young  negress  sprang  from  the  thicket,  and 
stood  wild-eyed  before  him  with  blood  trickling 
from  her  wounded  arm. 

"Willie  was  by  far  the  more  startled  of  the  two, 
for  the  girl  was  not  at  all  frightened,  but  simply 
indignant.  She  showed  him.  the  wound,  chattering 
and  scolding  angrily  in  Spanish,  and  Willie,  sur- 
prised and  repentant,  proceeded  to  dress  the  wound 
to  the  best  of  his  ability.  "While  doing  so  two 
negroes  appeared  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  to 
whom  the  girl  explained  the  situation  in  some 
African  dialect  upon  which  they  took  away  "Willie's 
gun,  and  fastening  a  hammock  to  a  long  pole  gave 
him  one  end  to  carry.  The  girl  dropped  into  the 
hammock  wearily,  but  murmured  something  as  they 
were  about  to  set  forward. 

One  of  the  negroes  darted  into  the  thicket,  and 
returning  placed  in  her  hand  a  Koromanti  flute, 
made  from  a  porous  branch  of  the  trumpet  tree.  It 
was  with  this  instrument  that  the  young  negress 
had  given  the  bird-like  call,  at  once  so  sweet  and 
melancholy,  which  had  allured  him  into  captivity. 

For  Willie  was  now  a  prisoner.  He  realized  this 
as  he  tramped  on  for  miles  up  the  canon  into  wilder 
and  wilder  regions. 

Whither  were  they  leading  him,  and  for  what 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  129 

purpose?    "Was  their  clemency  in  sparing  his  life 
only  that  they  might  torture  him  later  on  ? 

Were  these  negroes  the  slaves  of  Spaniards,  or 
acting  on  their  own  behalf  ?  These  were  some  of 
the  questions  which  perplexed  his  mind  as  he 
stumbled  up  the  rocky  path,  or  waded  the  bed  of 
the  stream.  They  rested  for  a  short  time  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  and  then  tramped  on  far  into 
the  night,  arriving  at  last  at  a  valley  surrounded 
and  hidden  by  a  range  of  high  hills.  It  was  ap- 
parently the  crater  of  an  extinct  volcano,  or  the 
bed  of  an  ancient  lake,  which  had  burst  its  bounds 
and  disappeared  so  long  ago  that  a  vast  plain  of 
arable  soil  brought  down  by  the  rains  from  the 
surrounding  cliffs,  had  been  deposited  within  its 
cup.  This  plain  had  been  cultivated,  and  was  cov- 
ered with  fields  of  tobacco,  corn  and  coffee.  At 
first  Willie  saw  no  houses  or  other  signs  of  habita- 
tion, but  as  they  descended  into  the  valley  the 
moon  rose  over  the  mountain  range  and  he  discovered 
that  the  rocky  wall  was  pigeonholed  with  caves, 
tier  upon  tier,  with  narrow  ramps  and  footpaths 
leading  to  them,  like  the  cliff-dwellings  of  the 
ancient  Pueblo  Indians.  There  were  so  many  of 
these  caves  that  they  formed  an  amphitheatre  sweep- 
ing around  the  plantations,  and  Willie  compre- 
hended that  he  was  in  one  of  those  cities  of  the 


130  ANN  EKE. 

runaway  slaves  or  marooners  similar  to  that  of 
Nanny.  A  sentinel  at  the  pass,  through  which  they 
entered  the  crater,  lighted  a  torch  and  led  them  up 
a  winding  footpath  to  a  great  vaulted  cavern,  which 
was  later  to  be  known  as  Cudjos  Cave,  one  of  the 
council  chambers  of  that  celebrated  king  of  the 
blacks. 

As  they  approached  the  entrance  they  had  been 
joined  by  other  negroes  who  seemed  to  spring  up 
from  the  ground,  and  to  ooze  from  the  rocks  them- 
selves. The  procession  filled  the  cavern  with  a 
murmuring  crowd,  who  pressed  forward  to  have  a 
look  at  Willie.  But  other  guards  had  joined  the 
sentinel,  who  kept  the  crowd  back,  and  Willie,  too 
weary  to  stand,  leaned  against  the  wall  and  looked 
into  the  dark  faces  resolutely,  wondering  whether 
they  had  come  to  watch  his  execution.  But  there 
was  curiosity,  not  fury  in  their  gestures,  and  some 
women  brought  calabashes  of  mush  and  coffee,  with 
which  he  refreshed  himself.  The  wounded  girl  had 
left  her  hammock  and  disappeared  before  they  en- 
tered the  cavern,  and  presently  a  weird  figure  came 
from  the  extreme  end,  and  mounting  a  block  of 
stone,  which  appeared  to  have  been  placed  there  as 
a  sort  of  rostrum,  harangued  the  audience.  She 
was  an  aged  but  energetic  negress,  her  woolly  hair 
whitened  by  age,  and  her  figure  bent,  but  her  arms 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  131 

sinewy  and  her  voice  powerful.  She  was  dressed 
in  a  course  robe  of  sacking,  and  supported  herself 
with  a  long  staff.  As  she  talked  the  negroes 
grunted  their  approval,  and  finally,  as  she  spread 
her  hands  above  her  head  in  dismissal,  they  obedi- 
ently left  the  hall.  Then  the  witch-like  creature 
descended  from  her  pedestal,  and  approaching 
Willie,  addressed  him  to  his  intense  surprise  in 
fairly  good  English. 

"  Captain  Morgan  much  trouble.  No  keep  prom- 
ise Mookinga,  free  her  people,  Margarita." 

"  Are  you  Mookinga  ? "  Willie  asked.  "  Then 
you  ought  to  know  that  Captain  Morgan  was  to 
return  to  Tortuga  before  setting  out  on  the  Mar- 
garita expedition.  He  did  so,  but  found  his  home 
destroyed,  and  no  Mookinga  to  tell  him  with  what 
signals  to  rally  the  pearl  divers  of  Margarita  to  his 
assistance." 

The  old  woman  nodded  gravely. 

"  You  take  message  to  Captain  Morgan.  If  he 
no  shoot  poor  black  people,  no  whip,  no  abuse,  then 
they  come  down  to  ship,  Mookinga  work  great 
spell,  float  ship,  black  people  go  with  Captain  Mor- 
gan. He  show  where  to  steer  ship.  Kill  Spaniards, 
free  slaves,  give  him  pearl,  much  pearl." 

Willie  was  by  no  means  certain  that  Captain 
Morgan  would  be  willing  to  man  his  vessel  with  a 


132  ANNEXE. 

crew  of  half  savage  blacks,  but  he  reflected  that  it 
was  quite  safe  to  promise  anything  contingent  on 
the  floating  of  the  ship,  and  as  he  was  entirely  in 
the  power  of  this  strange  woman,  he  expressed  his 
willingness  to  carry  her  message.  He  was  not  al- 
lowed to  do  so  for  many  days.  The  girl,  whom  he 
had  inadvertently  shot,  was  Mookinga's  daughter 
Figa.  Willie's  knowledge  of  surgery  adapted  to 
gunshot  wounds,  though  rudimentary,  was  in  ad- 
vance of  that  of  any  of  the  negroes,  and  Mookinga 
insisted  that  he  should  not  return  until  the  girl's 
arm  was  cured.  Meantime  his  position  was  very  tol- 
erable. The  negroes  were  fugitives  from  the  Span- 
iards, and  some  of  them  had  even  been  house-servants, 
and  knew  the  European  ways  of  cooking.  In  their 
plantations  inside  the  crater  and  in  other  fertile 
valleys  further  up  the  mountains,  they  cultivated 
many  kinds  of  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  Willie 
especially  enjoyed  the  bananas,  and  the  sour  wild 
oranges  sweetened  with  brown  sugar.  Mookinga 
made  delicate  fritters,  and  when  his  appetite  was 
satisfied  it  was  a  pleasant  thing  to  — 

"Swing  with  good  tobacco  in  a  net  between  the  trees." 

Figa  had  a  small  green  parrot  which  it  was  amus- 
ing to  attempt  to  teach.  It  already  knew  a  num- 
ber of  Spanish  words  but  appeared  perplexed  by 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  133 

English.  There  were  many  strange  song  birds,  he 
was  told,  in  the  mountains,  but  he  was  not  allowed 
to  wander  outside  of  the  crater.  He  was  half  guest 
and  half  prisoner,  and  was  always  watched  by  ne- 
groes quick  to  wait  upon  him,  but  who  would  have 
been  equally  officious  in  hindering  any  attempt  to 
escape.  Soon  his  imprisonment  became  closer  and 
more  irksome,  for  the  rainy  season  came  on. 

The  rain  descended  in  sheets,  and  Willie  was  con- 
fined to  the  great  cave.  It  was  impossible  now  to 
descend  the  canon,  for  the  little  stream  had  swollen 
to  a  torrent  which  filled  the  stony  bed  from  wall 
to  wall.  So  Willie  remained  a  captive  with  the  ne- 
groes and  Morgan  and  his  companions  imagined 
that  he  had  met  his  death.  They,  too,  were  prison- 
ers, shut  in  by  the  driving  rain,  and  the  men  were 
growing  every  day  more  restless,  and  were  longing 
for  any  adventure,  no  matter  how  desperate,  to  re- 
lease them  from  their  Crusoe  life. 

At  last  the  rain  ceased  and  one  morning,  to  their 
horror,  the  little  garrison  were  awakened  by  the 
beating  of  drums  and  barbarous  shouts  and  cries,  and 
peering  over  their  palings,  saw  that  an  armed  band 
of  half-naked  negroes  had  seized  the  cliffs  above 
them,  and  were  in  a  position  to  fire  down  into  their 
enclosure.  The  men  snatched  their  guns,  prepared 
to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible,  when  they 


134  ANNEKE. 

saw  two  figures  descending  a  narrow  pathvyay.  As 
they  came  nearer  Captain  Morgan  saw  that  one  of 
them  was  dressed  in  civilized  garb,  and  carried  a 
flag  of  truce,  and  that  the  other  was  a  woman. 
Later  when  the  door  of  the  blockhouse  was  opened 
and  they  were  allowed  to  enter  he  was  astonished 
to  recognize  Willie  and  Mookinga. 

The  Captain  was  neither  so  incredulous  as  to 
Mookinga's  power,  nor  so  scrupulous  as  to  condi- 
tions as  Willie  imagined  that  he  would  be,  and  an 
agreement  was  speedily  made  between  them.  It 
was  arranged  that  nearly  all  the  negroes  were  to 
return  to  their  homes  to  bring  provisions  for  the 
voyage ;  while  only  twenty  were  to  be  taken  with 
Mookinga  to  Margarita  to  rescue  the  pearl  divers 
as  soon  as  the  ship  could  be  released  from  the  sands. 

When  the  larger  party  had  departed  the  bucca- 
neers descended  with  the  other  negroes  to  the 
shore.  Mookinga  led  the  procession,  brandishing 
her  staff,  to  which  was  tied  as  a  fetich  a  serpent's 
skin  stuffed  with  poisonous  horse  beans  brought 
from  Africa  and  a  variety  of  other  magical  objects 
used  in  incantations. 

Willie  fancied  that  the  Captain  intended  that  the 
negroes  should  clear  the  sand  from  around  the  keel 
of  the  vessel  while  others  lightened  it  by  removing 
the  cannon  and  ballast  and  that  thus  it  would  be 


WITH  TEE  BUCCANEERS.  135 

floated.  What  was  his  surprise  therefore,  to  find 
on  coming  in  sight  of  the  inlet,  that  the  Black  Lady 
was  entirely  free  of  the  sands,  and  had  drifted 
quite  a  distance.  He  saw  in  an  instant  that  this 
had  been  accomplished  in  a  perfectly  natural  way, 
for  the  heavy  rains  had  swollen  the  streams  to  tor- 
rents, and  the  freshet  had  lifted  the  ship  from  the 
treacherous  bar.  Mookinga,  however,  claimed  the 
entire  credit  for  this  event,  and  the  negroes  scatter- 
ing in  several  directions  hauled  from  their  hiding- 
places  several  canoes  in  which  the  entire  party 
were  paddled  to  the  ship. 

The  negroes  worked  with  a  will,  transferring  the 
supplies  from  the  blockhouse  back  to  the  ship, 
and  in  due  time  the  others  who  had  been  sent  to 
their  mountain  fastness  returned  with  provisions, 
and  Captain  Morgan  finally  set  sail  in  better  condi- 
tion than  when  cast  away  upon  the  island. 

It  will  be  readily  understood  that  he  could  not 
be  depended  upon  to  take  the  part  of  the  slaves 
any  further  than  served  his  own  interest ;  but  he 
had  long  had  the  idea  in  his  mind  of  attacking 
Margarita.  He  therefore  determined  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  help  of  the  blacks,  and  after  the  port 
was  taken  to  act  as  was  most  convenient.  Even 
now  he  did  not  feel  strong  enough  to  attempt  the 
enterprise  unaided,  and  he  determined  to  cruise 


136  ANNEKE. 

along  the  northern  coast  of  Hispaniola,  hoping  to 
fall  in  with  some  other  pirate  ship  that  would  share 
in  the  adventure. 

He  would  have  found  companions  easily  if  he 
had  stopped  at  Tortuga,  for  the  French  cruiser  had 
made  but  a  short  stay,  and  the  buccaneers  were 
back  at  their  old  place  of  call  where  Frangois  Lo- 
lonnois  was  organizing  an  expedition  to  plunder 
the  Spaniards. 

Lolonnois  was  possibly  the  most  brutal  of  all  the 
pirates.  He  captured  a  Spanish  frigate  sent  from 
Cuba,  with  a  negro  executioner  on  board  instructed 
to  hang  all  the  pirates  to  the  yard-arm.  Lolonnois 
boarded  the  ship  with  his  gang,  and  led  the  attack, 
striking  off  the  heads  of  the  Spaniards,  and  licking 
his  cutlass  after  every  blow.  No  leader  of  the  buc- 
caneers approached  so  nearly  to  being  an  incarnate 
fiend  in  the  cold  ingenuity  of  his  tortures,  though 
Morgan,  when  attempting  to  extract  information  of 
secreted  treasure,  was  a  close  follower. 

Ignorant  of  what  was  going  on  at  Tortuga,  Mor- 
gan gave  his  old  haunts  a  wide  berth,  and  sailed  on 
past  Porto  Kico  and  the  Virgin  Islands  to  the  Car- 
ibbees.  As  they  came  in  sight  of  St.  Martin  one 
of  the  most  northerly  of  this  group,  they  were  sur- 
prised to  see  that  a  naval  engagement  was  going 
on  in  its  principal  harbor. 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  137 

Two  great  Portuguese  galleons  had  attempted  to 
land,  but  had  been  pluckily  met  in  the  bay  by  three 
small  yachts,  which  disputed  their  approach.  The 
smallest  of  the  vessels  carrying  but  five  guns  and 
manned  by  thirty  men  sailed  between  the  Portu- 
guese ships,  which  were  so  near  together  that  they 
dared  not  fire  upon  the  yacht  for  fear  of  injuring 
each  other.  While  the  attention  of  the  two  crews 
was  taken  up  by  this  daring  exploit  the  other 
yachts  grappled  each  the  outer  side  of  the  two  gal- 
leons, and  their  boarders  were  on  deck  before  the 
Portuguese  realized  what  had  happened. 

"  Well  done,  Dutchmen ! "  shouted  Morgan, 
"  though  they  have  a  stiff  bit  of  work  before  them 
yet,  for  the  Portuguese  outnumber  them  three  to 
one." 

"  Dutchmen,  did  you  say  ?  "  asked  Willie.  "  You 
are  right  too,  I  recognize  that  little  fleet  of 
yachts,  for  I  went  on  board  them  all  with  Kiliaen 
when  they  were  lying  at  Amsterdam.  The  one  on 
the  port  side  of  the  larger  galleon  is  the  Neptune. 
That  is  the  Cat  to  the  starboard  of  the  other, 
and  that  little  hero  sailing  in  between  is  the 
Paroquit,  Stuyvesant's  favorite,  and  his  flagship. 
But  he  told  me  he  was  bound  for  Curacao.  What 
is  he  doing  here  ?  " 

"  Defending  his  dependency,  and  by  the  powers 


138  ANNEXE. 

he  is  doing  it  well.  St.  Martin  belongs  to  the 
Dutch,  but  the  Portuguese  have  long  coveted  it. 
We  are  in  luck,  Willie  Nicoll,  we  are  going  to  have 
sport  better  than  the  best  cockfight  or  bear  baiting 
you  ever  witnessed.  We  will  lie  off  here  at  a  safe 
distance  and  see  them  batter  one  another,  and  when 
all  is  over  the  victor  may  be  so  worried  out  that  we 
can  sail  in  and  make  prizes  of  them  all.  Perfect 
neutrality,  says  I,  perfect  neutrality,  till  I  sees 
which  way  luck  is  going  to  jump,  and  then  jump 
with  it  quick,  and  hard,  and  never  mind  what  you 
jump  on,  Willie  Nicoll !  " 

So  they  watched  the  unequal  fight,  taking  turns 
at  the  ship's  best  spyglass.  Willie's  attention  was 
concentrated  on  the  yacht  Paroquit  which,  it 
has  been  said,  lay  at  close  quarters  between  the 
two  great  galleons.  Its  five  guns  were  being  fired 
with  such  rapidity  and  effect  that  one  of  the  Portu- 
guese ships  bore  off  to  a  safer  distance  leaving 
Willie  a  more  unobstructed  view.  As  he  scruti- 
nized the  deck  of  the  yacht  he  was  attracted  by 
two  men ;  the  first  was  Stuy vesant,  who  was  here, 
there  and  everywhere,— directing  the  fire  of  the 
gunners,  shouting  to  the  helmsman,  or  the  man  who 
was  running  up  signals  to  the  other  yachts, 
now  vanishing,  now  reappearing,  gesticulating,  and, 
Willie  felt  sure  though  he  could  not  hear  the  words, 


WITH  THE  BUCCANEERS.  139 

— swearing  as  he  delivered  his  vehement  orders. 
The  other  man  sat  quite  alone  in  an  exposed  por- 
tion of  the  deck  with  a  strange  contrivance  rigged 
before  him,  which  at  first  Willie  imagined  to  be  a 
great  shield  raised  for  his  protection  on  a  sort  of 
tripod,  but  as  Willie  continued  to  study  this  puz- 
zling figure  it  flashed  through  his  mind  that  the 
shield  was  simply  a  large  canvas  on  a  sketching 
easel,  the  man  an  artist  so  carried  away  by  enthu- 
siasm, that  he  was  painting  with  as  complete 
absorption  and  coolness  as  though  in  the  safest  and 
most  quiet  of  studios. 

Suddenly,  after  an  energetic  dab  at  the  canvas, 
the  painter  rose  from  his  camp-stool,  took  a  few 
steps  backward  to  regard  his  work  from  a  little 
distance,  ran  his  fingers  through  his  hair  with  a 
gesture  of  despair  and  precipitated  himself  upon  his 
painting  with  renewed  energy. 

That  dramatic  gesture  was  enough  to  recall  the 
artist  to  Willie,  and  he  exclaimed :  "  It  is  Yan  der 
Yelde ;  at  last  he  has  his  opportunity." l 

1  The  talents  of  William  Van  der  Velde  so  recommended  him  to 
the  States  of  Holland  that  they  furnished  him  with  a  small  vessel 
to  accompany  their  fleets  that  he  might  design  the  different  ma- 
neuvres  and  engagements.  He  was  present  at  the  battle  between 
the  English  and  the  Dutch  fleets  under  the  command  of  the  Duke 
of  York  and  Admiral  Opdam  in  which  the  ship  of  the  latter  with 
five  hundred  men  was  blown  up.  During  the  engagements  he 
sailed  between  the  fleets  so  as  to  represent  every  movement  of  the 


140  ANNEKE. 

At  that  instant  a  shot  from  one  of  the  yacht's 
guns  took  effect  in  the  powder  magazine  of  the  re- 
treating Portuguese  ship,  there  was  a  fearful  ex- 
plosion, a  volcano  of  flame  and  burning  fragments 
rose  into  the  air,  and  then  a  curtain  of  smoke  de- 
scended and  hid  the  combatants  from  view. 

ships  with  exactness,  constantly  exposing  himself  to  the  greatest 
danger  without  the  least  apparent  anxiety.  He  wrote  over  the 
ships  their  names  and  those  of  their  commanders,  and  under  his 
own  frail  craft  "  V.  Velde's  Gallijodt." 

Both  he  and  his  son  were  taken  into  the  service  of  King  Charles 
II.,  as  appears  from  an  order  of  the  privy  seal  as  follows :  "Charles 
II.  by  the  grace  of  God,  etc.,  to  our  dear  cousin,  Prince  Rupert, 
greeting.  Whereas,  we  have  thought  fit  to  allow  the  salary  of 
£100  per  annum  unto  William  Van  der  Velde  the  Elder  for  taking 
and  making  draughts  of  sea-fights  ;  and  the  like  salary  of  £100  per 
annum  unto  William  Van  der  Velde  the  Younger,  for  putting  the 
said  draughts  in  color  for  our  own  particular  use, — we  do  hereby 
require  said  salaries  to  be  paid  unto  them,  and  for  so  doing  these 
our  letters  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant  and  discharge." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


OEANGE    BOVEN.1 

"  Will  you  have  a  white  knot? 

No,  it  is  too  cold. 
Give  me  splendid  orange, 
Tint  of  flame  and  gold. 

"  Aye  the  maid  of  Holland 
For  her  own  true  love 
Ties  the  gleaming  orange, 

Orange  still  above! 
0  oranje  boven  ! 
Orange  still  above!  " 

— Dutch  national  song  translated. 

O  the  Dutchman,"  (says 
Griffis)    "  orange   is   a 
symbolical   as    well  as 
historical  color.     Com- 
pounded of  red  and  yel- 
low, it  tells  of  blood  and 
gold,  life    and   property." 
Both    of  these  the    Hol- 
lander was  always  willing 
to  lavish  for  his  country. 
No  one    had   more  gener- 
ously given  his  wealth  than 
Kiliaen  Van  Eensselaer ;  his  ambition  even  had  been 

1  Oranje  boven,  orange  above. 
141 


142  ANNEKE. 

so  mingled  with  patriotism  that  it  was  hardly  per- 
sonal, and  when  the  wrench  came  that  tore  asunder 
the  interests  of  his  family  and  those  of  his  Prince 
his  loyalty  never  wavered. 

It  is  true  that  on  the  day  that  the  marriage  of 
Prince  William  II.  with  the  Princess  Mary  of  Eng- 
land, was  publicly  proclaimed  in  Amsterdam,  he  was 
prostrated  by  a  stroke  of  apoplexy,  but  he  rallied 
almost  immediately  and  no  one  but  little  Anneke 
saw  any  connection  between  the  two  events  or 
guessed  at  the  mirage  which  vanished  with  this 
certainty. 

Young  Kiliaen  had  been  upon  the  point  of  sail- 
ing for  New  Amsterdam  in  his  grandfather's  ship 
the  Goede  Vrouw,  but  he  put  off  his  departure  in- 
definitely, unwilling  to  leave  Holland  until  the  old 
man's  recovery,  and  the  ship  which  took  back  Jere- 
mias  Yan  Eensselaer  sailed  without  him. 

Before  she  started  upon  her  voyage  her  owner 
was  borne  on  board  and  transported  across  the 
southern  end  of  the  Zuyder  Zee  to  his  ancestral 
estates  in  Gelderland,  the  Riddergoed  of  Rensse- 
laerwyck  near  Nykerk,  to  spend  the  months  of  his 
convalescence  in  the  old  moated  manor  house. 

Young  Kiliaen  and  Anneke  nursed  him  devotedly 
and  he  was  affectionate  to  both,  but  tenderer  and 
more  confidential  to  his  granddaughter,  with  whom 


ORANGE  BOVEN.  143 

he  spoke  frankly  of  the  thwarting  of  his  hopes,  ab- 
solving the  Prince  from  all  blame. 

"  It  was  all  a  mistake,"  he  said.  "  I  understand 
it  now  as  I  look  back  upon  our  conversation.  The 
Prince  was  thinking  of  the  English  marriage.  He 
supposed  that  I  referred  to  the  Princess  Mary  and 
had  no  thought  of  you.  You  must  forgive 
him." 

"  It  seems,"  Anneke  replied,  "  that  I  have  noth- 
ing to  forgive.  The  Prince  meant  me  no  harm  and 
I  never  cared  for  him,  but  this  young  man,  who 
played  his  part  and  imposed  upon  us  both,  I  can 
never  forgive." 

They  drove  together  along  the  wet  roads  between 
the  canals  and  the  seashore,  ready  to  hoist  the 
great  top  of  the  heavy  carriage  when  the  pearly 
mist  changed  to  actual  rain,  for  the  air  like  the 
earth  was  surcharged  with  moisture.  They  were 
gracious  drops,  however,  and  the  sunbeams 
twinkled  through  them  so  blithely,  turning  the  tiny 
globules  into  thousands  of  diamonds  brilliant  with 
prismatic  color,  that  the  young  people  were  never 
depressed.  They  were  young,  and  could  no  more 
give  themselves  to  despondency  than  the  ducklings 
that  swam  among  water  lilies.  Kiliaen  Yan  Rens- 
selaer  the  elder,  was  tranquil  and  thoughtful. 
Little  by  little  he  regained  his  hold  on  life,  though 


144  ANNEKE. 

he  often  lost  himself  in  his  musings  and  did  not 
hear  or  understand  when  spoken  to,  so  that  the 
cousins  were  practically  alone.  One  day  Kiliaen 
overestimated  his  grandfather's  preoccupation. 
"  The  Goede  Yrouw,"  he  said,  "  has  returned,  and 
grandfather  is  so  much  better  that  I  need  delay  my 
departure  no  longer.  He  told  me  so  yesterday.  He 
wishes  me  to  go  to  Harderwijk,  where  the  ship  is 
waiting,  and  see  that  she  is  put  in  readiness  for  sail- 
ing for  America." 

"  I  wish,"  said  Anneke  impulsively,  "  that  I  were 
going  back  with  you." 

"  Then  why  not,  dear  Anneke  ?  Be  my  wife 
now,  instead  of  making  me  wait  until  I  can  come 
back  to  claim  you." 

Anneke  had  started  when  he  began  to  speak  and 
she  now  interrupted  him.  "  I  do  not  understand 
you,  Kiliaen.  I  never  said  you  might  come  back  to 
claim  me  at  all,  and  you  have  never  asked  me  to  be 
your  wife — have  never  even  told  me  that  you 
loved  me." 

"  But  surely  that  was  always  understood.  Our 
parents  settled  all  that  when  we  were  babies.  I 
am  sure  that  the  earliest  thing  that  I  can  remember 
was  my  mother  scolding  me  for  kissing  a  neighbor's 
little  girl  because  I  was  promised  to  my  cousin  in 
America." 


ORANGE  BOVEN.  145 

"And  have  you  loved  me  all  these  years?" 
Anneke  asked  mischievously. 

"  I  confess  I  have  hated  you  very  heartily.  The 
thought  that  we  were  as  good  as  betrothed  has 
come  in  many  a  time  to  spoil  my  pleasure.  But  all 
that  vanished  as  soon  as  I  saw  you.  I  became 
from  that  moment  the  most  dutiful  son  in  the 
world.  The  day  after  I  first  called  on  you, 
Anneke,  I  said  to  my  mother,  'My  will  is  yours.' 
Poor  Willie  Mcoll,  it  was  all  over  with  him  the 
same  day.  We  confessed  it  to  each  other.  You 
will  be  surprised  to  know  that  we  were  rivals  from 
that  moment,  but  he,  poor  fellow,  had  no  chance, 
that  is  why  I  tell  you  now  that  he  loved  you.  We 
promised  that  we  would  be  rivals  in  all  honor,  and 
I  could  never  respect  myself  if  I  took  a  mean  ad- 
vantage of  my  friend.  You  must  first  choose  be- 
tween us,  for  if  you  care  for  him  I  will  go  to 
Leyden  and  tell  him  so  before  I  sail.  He  is  a  good 
fellow,  Anneke,  and  honorable  as  the  day  is  long." 

"No,"  cried  Anneke,  "that  is  just  what  he  is 
not.  He  is  a  false  friend ;  never  trust  him 
more." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Anneke,"  Kiliaen  asked, 
his  trouble  showing  itself  in  his  face  and  voice. 
But  their  grandfather,  who  had  seemingly  been 
asleep  in  his  chair,  roused  himself  suddenly  and 


146  ANN  EKE. 

asked  for  his  pipe.  "Do  not  bother  Anneke  by 
asking  her  how  it  happens  that  she  dislikes  your 
friend,"  he  said  to  Kiliaen  as  the  girl  ran  for  the 
pipe,  "  be  satisfied  that  she  does  not  love  him,  and 
that  she  loves  you.  Is  not  that  enough  ?  " 

"  Oh !  More  than  enough,"  Kiliaen  replied,  but 
Anneke,  who  had  heard  both,  answered,  "I  shall 
tell  Kiliaen  all  the  truth,  grandfather."  She  did 
so  very  bravely,  not  concealing  that  she  had  fancied 
that  she  loved  Willie  until  she  knew  that  he  had 
made  use  of  such  dishonorable  means  to  meet  her. 
"  Then,"  she  said  simply,  "  I  knew  that  I  never 
loved  that  unworthy  one  but  only  the  noble  char- 
acter that  I  imagined  him  to  be.  You  could  never 
have  done  such  a  thing,  Cousin  Kiliaen." 

Kiliaen  pondered  deeply.  "  I  cannot  believe  it," 
he  cried.  "  It  is  so  unlike  "Willie,  but  since  you 
assure  me  that  he  did  this  thing  I  must  believe  that 
his  love  for  you  is  greater  than  mine,  since  it  could 
make  him  forget  honor." 

"I  know  it,"  Anneke  replied  proudly.  "You 
are  a  true  Hollander  and  a  true  Van  Rensselaer 
and  so  am  I.  We  hold  certain  things  dearer  than 
love  itself,  and  so  I  trust  you  as  you  may  trust  me. 
I  love  you  too,  I  am  sure,  quite  as  much  as  you  love 
me.  It  is  not  just  what  I  thought  the  love  of  hus- 
band and  wife  would  be,  but  if  you  are  satisfied, 


ORANGE  BO  YEN.  147 

Kiliaen,  I  will  be  your  wife  and  I  promise  to  be  a 
true  and  grateful  one." 

"  Say  a  happy  one,  Anneke,  for  I  love  you  with 
all  my  heart." 

"  Of  course  she  will  be  happy,"  broke  in  the  old 
man.  "Hasn't  she  said  that  she  has  no  regrets, 
that  she  is  grateful  for  your  love  and  proud  of  you, 
in  short  that  she  loves  you  ?  Why  split  hairs  as  to 
whether  it  is  just  the  love  of  a  wife  for  a  husband  ? 
What  do  you  know  about  that,  I  should  like  to 
know?  Down  on  your  knees  both  of  you,  and 
thank  God  each  for  the  other.  He  gives  no  better 
gift  than  you  each  received  to-day." 

They  knelt  beside  their  grandfather's  armchair, 
and  he  embraced  them  both,  and  blessed  them. 

A  few  weeks  later  they  were  married  by  their 
Uncle  Mcolaus,  the  seer;  but  when  they  asked 
him  for  a  vision  of  their  future  he  said  solemnly, 
"  Ask  me  not,  I  can  see  but  a  little  way.  Some- 
times the  vision  fails,  and  then  'tis  best  not  to 
know." 

From  the  moment  that  Anneke  and  Kiliaen  un- 
derstood each  other  their  grandfather  seemed  to 
receive  a  new  lease  of  life.  He  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  hurried  preparations  for  the  wedding, 
giving  orders  for  a  change  in  the  lading  of  the 
Goede  Yrouw,  and  ordering  her  to  be  ballasted 


148  ANNEKE. 

with  brick  for  the  building  of  the  new  home  on  the 
Hudson,  and  laden  with  rich  household  furniture, 
carved  chests  of  linen  and  massive  plate  engraved 
with  the  family  coat-of-arms,  a  bale  of  rugs  which 
had  been  brought  back  in  one  of  his  ships  from 
Constantinople,  a  box  of  books  and  even  some 
paintings. 

"  I  cannot  give  you  the  jewels,  my  child ; "  he 
said,  "  the  crown  which  I  imagined  might  be  yours 
one  day  will  be  worn  by  the  daughter  of  King 
Charles.  But  some  day  I  may  fashion  for  you  an- 
other. That  vast  new  country  has  great  opportu- 
nities and  possibly  great  surprises  in  store  for  us." 

The  usual  route  for  the  Dutch  at  that  day  to 
their  colony  on  the  Hudson,  was  by  way  of  the 
West  Indies,  and  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  had  a 
special  reason  for  wishing  the  Goede  Vrouw  to  go 
first  to  Cura£ao.  He  had  long  planned  to  visit  the 
island  himself,  and  to  establish  there  a  branch  house 
for  the  purchase  of  such  of  the  Panama  pearls  and 
those  of  Margarita  as  could  be  obtained  from  smug- 
glers, and  he  now  sent  out  his  youngest  son  to  su- 
perintend this  business. 

"  Governor  Stuy  vesant  will  receive  you  well  for 
my  sake,"  he  said,  "  and  will  put  you  in  the  way  of 
making  your  fortune.  The  Spaniards  themselves 
will  be  glad  to  evade  their  own  laws  and  trade  with 


ORANGE  BO  YEN.  149 

us,  for  we  can  make  it  greatly  to  their  advantage  to 
do  so." 

The  wedding  was  a  stately  one,  the  family  re- 
turning to  Amsterdam  for  its  celebration,  and  the 
numerous  connections  rallying  to  do  the  young 
couple  honor.  Ex-Governor  Wouter  Van  Twiller 
and  his  wife  took  an  especial  interest  in  the  emigra- 
tion of  their  nephew,  and  though  Kiliaen  used  to 
say  in  sport  that  his  uncle's  career  in  New  Nether- 
lands furnished  him  with  many  brilliant  examples  of 
what  not  to  do,  he  was  fond  of  the  old  man  and 
especially  so  of  his  Aunt  Petronella.  The  Goede 
Yrouw  was  gaily  bedecked  with  orange  bunting, 
and  the  old  national  song  with  which  we  have 
headed  this  chapter,  was  sung  by  the  wedding 
guests  as  they  stood  in  front  of  the  Schreyerstoren 
and  waved  a  farewell  to  Goede  Vrouw  as  she  fol- 
lowed the  very  track  which  had  been  taken  by  the 
Black  Lady,  which  two  years  before  had  carried 
Willie  Nicoll  on  his  despairing  voyage  to  the  Span- 
ish Main. 

To  just  the  point  where  they  embarked  the  tour- 
ists of  to-day  flock  to  take  the  small  steamers  which 
make  trips  at  every  hour  of  the  day  to  interesting 
points  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city,  but  few  probably 
know  the  history  of  the  old  tower  which  still 
watches  over  the  harbor  as  it  did  when  Anneke 


150  ANNEKE. 

sailed  away.  It  is  built  in  fantastic  style  and  called 
the  Schreyerstoren  or  Tower  of  Tears,  because  it 
was  here  that  the  mariners  departing  on  their  long 
voyages  bade  farewell  to  their  friends. 

Over  the  gate  is  an  ancient  bas-relief,  represent- 
ing a  weeping  woman,  and  in  the  distance  a  depart- 
ing ship,  a  tablet  said  to  have  been  placed  there  in 
memory  of  a  sailor's  wife  who  died  of  grief,  but 
emblematical  as  well  of  many  another  broken  heart. 

The  island  of  Curacao  to  which  Anneke  and  Kil- 
iaen  were  bound  was  one  of  the  early  discoveries. 
Amerigo  Vespucci,  whose  name  was  given  later  to 
both  continents,  came  upon  it  with  Columbus'  lieu- 
tenant, Ojeda,  in  1499,  and  called  it  the  Isle  of 
Giants,  from  the  men  of  great  stature  whom  he 
found  there.  Vespucci  was  a  Venetian,  and  he  gave 
the  name  of  Venezuela,  or  Little  Venice,  to  the  en- 
tire northern  coast  of  South  America  which  he 
skirted  in  this  voyage,  because  the  delta  of  the  Ori- 
noco with  its  numerous  islands  reminded  him  of 
his  native  lagoons.  Up  this  many -mouthed  Orinoco 
Raleigh  sailed  later,  to  make  his  ill-fated  attempt  to 
claim  its  gold  fields  for  England.  Vespucci  did  not 
ascend  the  river,  but  simply  threaded  the  inlets  and 
land-locked  bays — boldly  entering  the  unknown 
lake  between  Trinidad  and  the  mainland  by  the 
Serpent's  Mouth,  and  leaving  it  by  the  Dragons', 


ORANGE  BO  YEN.  151 

coasting  Margarita,  all  unconscious  of  its  treasure  of 
pearl,  and  discovering  the  three  small  islands  of 
Buen  Ayre,  Curasao,  and  Aruba  which  the  Dutch 
were  to  take  in  1632,  entered  the  Gulf  of  Mara- 
caibo.  There  the  Spaniards  were  to  build  one  of 
their  richest  and  most  unfortunate  cities,  richest  be- 
cause it  was  the  centre  of  the  entire  South  American 
trade,  and  unfortunate  because  its  wealth  attracted 
frequent  visits  from  pirates,  who  burned  and  plun- 
dered the  town,  killing  and  torturing  its  inhabitants. 

This  was  the  course  followed  by  the  Goede  Yrouw, 
save  that  it  darted  swiftly  past  Margarita,  giving 
its  castle  a  wide  berth,  for  close  beside  it  was  an- 
chored the  Spanish  plate  ship,  Magdalena,  taking 
on  a  cargo  of  pearls,  and  the  Dutch  sloop  was  not 
prepared  to  attack  the  Spanish  galleon. 

Anneke  was  surprised  by  the  homelike  aspect  of 
Cura9ao,  for  the  Dutch  settlers  had  done  wonders 
in  their  short  time  of  occupancy.  They  had  found 
a  small  arid  island,  its  natural  deficiency  of  water 
only  partly  supplied  by  the  cisterns  which  the 
Spaniards  had  built,  and  its  resources  entirely  unde- 
veloped. But  the  Hollanders  had  set  to  work 
and  by  means  of  plentiful  irrigation  had  rendered 
its  plains  productive.  Canals  had  been  carried 
inland  from  the  bay  of  Santa  Anna  on  which  the 
town  of  Willemstadt  was  built.  Its  deep  and  shel- 


152  ANN  EKE. 

tered  harbor  was  the  chief  rendezvous  of  the  Dutch 
West  Indian  fleet,  and  as  the  Goede  Vrouw  rounded 
its  breakwater,  Kiliaen  recognized  Stuy vesant's  little 
squadron  of  one  ship  and  three  yachts.  A  salute 
was  fired  in  their  honor  as  they  landed,  and  pres- 
ently the  director's  boat,  rowed  by  stout  negroes, 
came  dashing  down  the  Schottegat.  This  deep 
lagoon  separated  the  business  part  of  the  town 
from  its  residential  suburb,  the  "  Oberzijde,"  whose 
green  plantations  were  reflected  in  spreading 
swamps  which  reminded  the  young  emigrants  of 
the  watery  landscapes  of  their  native  land.  True, 
everything  was  on  a  tiny  scale.  Fort  Amsterdam, 
which  defended  the  harbor,  was  only  a  small  town, 
the  houses  were  of  one  story,  for  fear  of  earth- 
quakes, and  were  built  of  adobe  bricks ;  but  many 
of  them  were  roofed  with  red  tiles  brought  from 
Holland.  The  costumes  were  those  of  the  Dutch 
peasant,  and  the  dear  familiar  Dutch  language  ap- 
peared on  the  signs  of  their  shops  and  was  heard 
on  every  hand. 

Stuy  vesant  conveyed  his  guests  to  his  bowery,  or 
farm,  where  they  were  greeted  by  his  wife,  a 
charming  woman,  of  French  Huguenot  extraction. 
He  gave  them  a  hearty  welcome  and  urged  them  to 
make  a  long  visit,  for  he  could  do  nothing  at  present 
to  forward  the  pearl  merchant's  plans  of  establish- 


ORANGE  BOVEN.  153 

ing  a  branch  house  at  Willemstadt.  They  had  ar- 
rived just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of  departing  for 
the  plucky  defence  of  St.  Martin  which  Willie 
was  to  witness.  He  could  not  tell  what  would  be 
the  result  of  his  trip,  but  if  successful  he  promised 
to  return  by  way  of  Margarita  and  possibly  make 
a  raid  upon  its  port,  though  he  could  not  spare  men 
enough  to  leave  a  permanent  garrison  and  hold  it 
for  Holland  unless  reinforcements  were  sent  him 
from  the  mother  country.  In  the  meantime  he 
begged  his  guests  to  defer  their  departure  to  New 
Amsterdam  until  his  return,  and  this  they  readily 
agreed  to  do. 

The  island  of  Curapao  was  a  pleasant  place  to 
linger  in,  for  the  director's  bowery  was  planted 
with  orange  groves,  whose  sweet  perfume  hung 
heavily  in  the  warm  air.  They  swung  lazily  in  the 
hammocks  and  watched  the  fruit  grow  round  and 
golden  above  their  heads,  and  Anneke  declared 
that  even  nature  here  was  declaring  for  Holland, 
and  singing  Orange  Boven.  Stuyvesant  had  had 
no  such  sentimental  ideas  in  planting  the  orange 
groves.  The  climate  was  suited  to  their  cultiva- 
tion, they  were  a  profitable  article  of  export,  and  it 
was  possible  to  distil  from  them  a  delectable  variety 
of  Dutch  Schnaps,  the  liqueur  called  Curacao,  for 
which  the  island  is  still  celebrated. 


154  ANNEKE. 

Orange  Boven  was  not  the  only  song  sung  under 
the  orange  branches.  Just  as  the  Goede  Vrouw 
had  been  about  to  leave  the  port  of  Amsterdam, 
one  of  Yan  Kensselaer's  workmen  had  rushed  on 
board  with  Willie  Mcoll's  mandolin  which  had 
been  entrusted  to  him  long  before  to  mend.  He 
had  accomplished  his  task  very  cleverly,  and  when, 
after  they  had  been  several  days  at  sea,  Kiliaen 
found  the  mandolin  lying  on  the  cabin  table  and 
ran  his  fingers  over  its  strings,  he  found  the  instru- 
ment in  perfect  condition. 

It  reminded  him  with  a  shock  of  his  lost  friend. 
He  had  forgiven  what  he  believed  to  be  Willie's 
baseness  because  of  his  love,  and  he  had  even  ac- 
cepted his  own  success  with  less  compunction  be- 
cause he  believed  that  Willie  had  been  justly  pun- 
ished for  resorting  to  unfair  means  in  their  rivalry. 
All  the  greater,  he  thought,  must  have  been  Willie's 
grief  and  chagrin  that  his  sacrifice  of  honor  was  in 
vain,  and  Kiliaen's  noble  heart  held  only  a  great 
pity  for  his  wretched  friend. 

Anneke  did  not  connect  the  mandolin  with  Willie, 
and  when  Kiliaen  touched  it  and  sang  tender  love 
songs  under  the  arching  orange  boughs  the  notes 
wakened  no  troubled  memories  in  her  calm  and 
happy  mind. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PEARLS   AND   TEARS. 

But  she  drained  into  each  ruby's  heart  from  mine  a  drop  of  blood, 

And  a  purity  my  spirit  lost  with  every  pearl  that  fell, 
Then  she  laughed,  "  Good  pearls  thy  tears  are  now,  thy  kisses  rubies 

good, 

And  the  proper  use  of    precious  stones  thy  little  one  knows 
well."  — Lord  Lytton. 


HEN  Stuyvesant  and 
Willie  had  competed 
in  citing  examples  of 
Dutch  and  English 
bravery  as  they  sat 
with  the  Van  Rensse- 
laers  in  the  pleasant 
arbor  at  Amsterdam, 
Willie  had  capped  the 
heroic  death  of  Kla- 
zoon  with  that  of  Sir 
Richard  Grenville  and 

there  the  argument  had  rested. 

But  there  was  one  Dutch  naval  hero  whom  Stuy- 
vesant had  not  mentioned  at  that  time,  possibly  be- 

155 


156  ANNEXE. 

cause  while  his  heart  was  fired  with  a  fierce  desire 
to  emulate  his  wonderful  exploit,  he  could  not  de- 
fend on  high  moral  grounds  the  principle  of  re- 
venge.1 

Jacob  Yan  Heemskerk  was  but  the  individual  ex- 
pression of  the  national  desire  to  balance  the  bloody 
account  with  Spain,  and  we  can  best  understand 
one  phase  of  the  Dutch  spirit,  as  inherited  from  the 
immediate  ancestors  of  the  men  of  the  time  we  are 
considering,  by  turning  a  leaf  backward  in  history 
to  one  of  the  naval  exploits  of  Holland. 

Van  Heemskerk  by  turns  merchantman,  explorer, 
privateer  and  admiral  of  the  navy  was  a  man  of  re- 
fined appearance  with  fair  hair  and  gentle  expres- 
sion, but  he  hid  under  his  delicate  physique  an  iron 
will  and  unconquerable  valor  and  ambition. 

Placed  in  command  of  the  Dutch  fleet  of  twenty- 
six  small  ships,  he  set  out  in  the  spring  of  1607  for 
the  coast  of  Spain.  Vice  Admiral  Alteras  was 
next  to  himself  in  command,  but  Lambert,  nick- 
named on  account  of  his  beauty,  Pretty  Lambert, 
was  among  all  the  captains  Heemskerk's  best 
friend. 

They  had  news  from  merchantmen  that  the  entire 

1  The  author  acknowledges  her  indebtedness  to  Motley  for  the 
stories  of  Holland's  naval  greatness  as  supposed  to  have  been  re- 
lated by  Stuyvesant  in  chapter  iv.,  and  also  for  the  exploit  of 
Heemskerk  given  in  chapter  ix. 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  157 

Spanish  fleet  of  warships  was  lying  in  wait  in  the 
Straits  of  Gibraltar  for  Netherland  traders  returning 
from  the  East.  Although  they  knew  that  this  fleet 
was  far  superior  to  their  own,  the  Netherlander  ad- 
vanced eagerly  to  its  attack,  encouraged  by  Heems-. 
kerk,  who  called  the  captains  to  a  council  on  board 
his  flagship. 

"  I  have  led  you  into  a  position,"  he  said, 
"  whence  escape  is  impossible ;  you  have  no  choice 
between  triumph  and  destruction.  The  enemy's 
ships  are  far  superior  to  ours  in  bulk ;  but  remember 
that  their  excessive  size  makes  them  difficult  to  han- 
dle and  easier  to  hit,  while  our  own  vessels  are  en- 
tirely within  control." 

He  explained  the  plan  of  attack.  They  would 
advance  two  by  two,  himself  leading,  with  Pretty 
Lambert,  and  so  grapple  each  of  the  great  ships 
they  met  simultaneously  on  either  side.  Heems- 
kerk  was  in  complete  armor,  with  orange  plumes  and 
silken  orange  scarf  across  his  heart,  and  as  he  raised 
the  loving  cup  and  dictated  an  oath  to  stand  by  his 
comrades  to  the  bitter  death,  each  of  his  captains 
repeated  it  solemnly,  and  drank  the  parting  health 
with  enthusiasm.  Then  they  returned  to  their 
ships  which  were  appropriately  named  for  the  most 
savage  of  beasts  of  prey,  the  Tiger,  the  Sea  Dog, 
the  Griffin,  the  Ked  Lion,  the  Golden  Lion,  the 


158  ANNEKE. 

Black  Bear  and  the  White  Bear,  and  others  of  like 
rapacity. 

The  Spanish  ships  had  been  baptized  by  the  most 
sacred  names  known  in  their  religion  and  were  sup- 
posed to  be  under  the  special  protection  of  the  holy 
personages  whose  godchildren  they  were. 

There  were  several  named  for  the  Madonna,  as, 
Our  Lady  of  La  Vega,  The  Mother  of  God,  and  the 
flagship  was  the  St.  Augustine.  They  bore  at  least 
four  thousand  soldiers  beside  the  sailors. 

At  the  first  encounter  the  two  admirals,  Spanish 
and  Dutch,  were  slain,  but  a  cloak  was  thrown  over 
the  body  of  the  gallant  Heemskerk  and  the  fight 
went  on,  few  of  his  men  knowing  that  he  was  slain. 
"  Long  Harry,"  too,  was  killed,  but  "  Pretty  Lam- 
bert "  bore  a  charmed  life. 

Two  by  two  the  little  ships  closed  on  each  of  the 
great  galleons,  the  men  boarding  on  each  side  after 
one  or  two  broadsides.  One  by  one  the  Spanish 
ships  succumbed  and  sank,  or  drifted  helplessly 
about  burning,  to  the  water's  edge.  "  Our  Lady  of 
Vega  ablaze  from  top  gallant  mast  to  quarter  deck," 
floated  a  frightful  torch  among  the  clouds  of  smoke, 
"  her  guns  going  off  wildly  and  her  crew  dashing 
themselves  into  the  sea."  Suddenly  there  was  a 
tremendous  explosion,  one  of  the  largest  galleons 
had  blown  up,  and  its  blazing  wreckage  floated 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  159 

about  setting  two  more  of  the  Spanish  ships  on 
fire.  "  It  seemed,"  said  an  eyewitness,  "  as  if 
heaven  and  earth  were  passing  away." 

At  last  every  galleon  was  sunk  or  burned.  It 
was  a  great  victory  honorably  gained;  but  the 
sequel  was  dishonorable.  The  crews  of  the  Dutch 
ships  swarmed  into  their  long  boats  and  rowed 
about  among  the  drowning  wretches  with  which 
the  bay  was  filled ;  but  it  was  not  to  emulate  the 
humanity  of  the  crew  of  the  Half  Moon  who  saved 
two  hundred  of  their  enemies.  The  blood  of  the 
Dutch  seamen  was  up,  and,  burning  to  revenge  the 
death  of  their  commander,  the  crews  of  the  Tiger 
the  Lion  and  the  Bear  showed  a  bestial  ferocity  as 
they  beat  the  dying  wretches  with  their  boat- 
hooks  and  held  them  down  to  drown,  shooting  and 
stabbing  such  as  clung  to  their  boat  sides  implor- 
ing mercy.  This  infamous  butchery  shows  the 
difference  between  honorable  and  dishonorable  war- 
fare, and  how  easily  god-fearing  patriots  may  be 
transformed  into  fiends. 

The  war  between  Holland  and  Spain  had  nearly 
reached  its  conclusion,  but  in  the  Spanish  Main  the 
political  situation  was  not  clearly  defined.  The 
Dutch  had  become  conscious  of  their  power,  for  the 
West  India  Company  had  since  1621  captured  five- 
hundred  and  forty-seven  vessels,  mainly  off  the  coast 


160  ANN  EKE. 

of  America,  the  prize  money  from  which  amounted 
to  thirty  million  guilders  (over  twelve  million  dol- 
lars), while  the  damage  to  Spain  was  at  least  six 
times  as  much.  It  had  recently  conquered  Brazil, 
which  with  Portugal  and  her  colonies  was  in  the 
hands  of  Spain,1  and  it  must  be  understood  that  in 
attacking  the  Portuguese  who  had  seized  St. 
Martin,  Stuyvesant  was  virtually  following  the  ex- 
ample of  Heemskerk  in  visiting  the  revenge  of 
Holland  upon  Spain. 

After  the  smoke  which  had  obscured  the  issue  of 
the  combat  at  St.  Martin  had  cleared,  it  was 
evident  to  Captain  Morgan  and  to  Willie  that  the 
entire  situation  had  changed.  One  of  the  Por- 
tuguese ships  lay  a  dismantled  hulk,  the  other  was 
scudding  for  dear  life,  and  the  Dutch  were  masters 
of  the  field.  They  had  made  no  attempt,  however, 
to  follow  the  retreating  galleon,  but  were  huddled 
in  a  quiet,  and,  for  victors,  rather  disconsolate 
group.  It  needed  but  a  second  glance  to  divine  the 
reason.  A  circle  of  anxious  men  about  a  prostrate 
form  on  the  deck  of  the  Paroquit,  showed  that  the 
leader  had  fallen,  and  that  consternation  reigned 
for  the  moment  among  his  followers. 

"  Now  is  our  chance ; "  exclaimed  Morgan,  "  if  we 

1  Eodney's  West  Indies  and  Spanish  Main. 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  161 

attack  the  Dutch  now  we  have  some  chance  of  tak- 
ing them  by  surprise." 

"  Would  it  not  be  better,"  Willie  urged,  "  to  give 
chase  to  the  Portuguese  ship  ?  She  is  a  better  prize, 
and  the  Dutch  are  recovering  from  their  disorder. 
See,  the  largest  of  their  yachts  has  discovered  us 
and  is  preparing  to  give  us  a  warm  reception." 

"You  are  right,  Willie,"  Morgan  admitted  re- 
luctantly ;  "  they  were  game  enough  to  do  for  the 
two  galleons.  It  was  the  part  of  prudence  to  gain 
them  as  allies  rather  than  attack  them.  You  say 
you  knew  their  commander  in  Amsterdam.  Take  to 
the  boat,  let  some  of  these  blacks  row  you  out  with 
a  flag  of  truce.  Present  my  compliments,  and  see 
if  you  can  patch  up  a  partnership  for  an  attack  on 
Margarita.  In  the  meantime  I'll  follow  up  the 
galleon  and  whatever  the  result  will  come  back  and 
join  you  here." 

Willie  quickly  obeyed  the  Captain  and  was  taken 
on  board  the  Paroquit,  where  he  found  that  Stuy- 
vesant,  though  desperately  wounded,  was  still  giving 
orders.  A  cannon  ball  had  carried  off  his  leg.  He 
had  been  treated  by  the  surgeon  of  the  fleet  and  he 
lay  in  a  hammock,  very  pale,  but  with  his  resolute 
will  still  undaunted.  He  had  placed  no  one  else  in 
command  and  his  lieutenant  came  constantly  to 
him  with  information  and  received  his  directions. 


162  ANN  EKE. 

He  recognized  Willie,  and  greeted  him  in  a 
friendly  manner — but  listened  somewhat  dubiously 
to  Morgan's  overtures.  "  You  are  not  in  such 
company  as  I  would  wish  for  you,  my  lad,"  he  said, 
"and  to  tell  the  truth  I  wish  nothing  more  ear- 
nestly from  your  Captain  than  that  he  leave  me  to 
my  own  business.  I  neither  wish  his  enmity  nor 
his  favor,  put  it  as  you  think  best,  but  that  is  the 
matter  of  my  message." 

When  Willie  explained  that  Captain  Morgan  had 
followed  the  fleeing  Portuguese  galleon,  but  had 
promised  to  return  shortly  to  St.  Martin,  Stuy- 
vesant  replied  gleefully,  "  Then  you  are  my  pris- 
oner, my  lad,  for  I  have  no  intention  of  awaiting 
the  return  of  your  Captain.  You  and  your  negroes 
shall  go  with  me  to  Curacao,  prisoners  or  guests  as 
you  will,  and  a  lucky  thing  it  is  for  you  that  you 
are  rid  of  your  buccaneering  friends.  As  for  the 
attack  on  the  Spanish  castle  at  Margarita,  I  had 
that  adventure  in  mind  myself.  We  will  outsail 
the  Black  Lady  and  when  she  reaches  Margarita 
the  work  will  have  been  done — Kiliaen  and 
Anneke  Yan  Rensselaer,  your  old  friends,  are  at 
Cura£ao.  You  could  do  them  no  greater  favor 
than  to  assist  in  the  seizure  of  Margarita.  Can  you 
think  of  a  prettier  sight  in  the  world  than  Anneke's 
face  will  be  when  we  fill  her  apron  with  pearls  ?  " 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  163 

It  was  a  chance  remark,  but  it  was  destined  to 
influence  Willie's  career  in  a  most  important  crisis. 
The  order  was  passed  along  to  the  other  yachts  to 
proceed  to  the  neighboring  Dutch  island  of  St.  Eu- 
statius  in  order  to  repair  the  damages  sustained  in 
the  encounter  and  to  prepare  for  this  next  adven- 
ture. Stuy vesant  passed  a  painful  night ;  he  had 
exerted  himself  too  much  mentally  after  being 
wounded,  and  he  was  in  a  high  fever.  The  surgeon 
was  much  alarmed.  "  He  can  never  direct  an  en- 
gagement in  this  condition,"  he  said  to  the  other 
officers,  "  nor  have  I  any  hope  of  his  recovery  in 
this  hot  climate.  If  we  steer  at  once  for  Holland 
we  may  be  able  to  combat  his  fever  when  we  strike 
the  cool  breezes  of  the  open  ocean ;  and  if  his  wound 
does  not  heal  favorably  or  there  is  need  of  a  second 
operation,  we  can  call  in  the  assistance  of  the  best 
surgical  advice  in  Europe.  I  refuse  to  be  responsi- 
ble for  his  safety  in  these  latitudes."  In  this 
emergency  it  was  decided  to  give  up  the  Margarita 
expedition,  the  yacht  Cat  returning  to  Curayao  to 
report  the  news,  and  the  Neptune  with  Stuyve- 
sant's  Paroquit  attempting  the  voyage  across  the 
Atlantic. 

William  Van  der  Velde  went  back  to  Curapao, 
but  before  he  left  he  said  to  Willie— 

"  You  are  needed  at  home,  Nicoll.      There  are 


164  ANNEKE. 

wild  doings  in  England,  there  was  rumor  of  civil 
war  when  I  left  Holland ;  you  should  be  fighting 
under  Prince  Rupert,  who  passed  through  the 
Hague  on  his  way  to  take  a  commission  under  his 
royal  uncle,  King  Charles." 

At  another  time  this  information  would  have 
met  with  but  one  answer  from  Willie,  but  now 
it  awoke  a  fierce  struggle  within  his  breast. 
Anneke  was  at  Curayao  and  every  leap  which 
the  Paroquit  took  across  the  waves  was  bearing 
him  away  from  her.  Stuyvesant  had  not  said 
that  she  was  married  to  Kiliaen,  he  was  delirious 
now  and  could  not  give  the  information  which 
would  have  quenched  the  wild  hope  which  was 
flaming  once  more  in  Willie's  heart.  The  Cat 
had  sailed  for  Cura9ao,  but  on  the  horizon  there 
appeared  the  familiar  shape  of  the  Black  Lady. 
Morgan  was  returning  successful  from  his  chase 
of  the  Portuguese  ship,  which  was  following  at 
some  distance  as  his  prize,  and  manned  by  some 
of  his  buccaneers,  its  own  crew  having  been 
marooned  on  a  neighboring  island.  This  division 
of  his  men  made  Morgan  hesitate  to  attack  the 
Dutch  ships,  while  he  was  still  hopeful  that  Willie 
had  secured  them  as  allies.  He  accordingly  stopped 
at  a  little  distance,  signalling  that  he  wished  to 
confer  with  the  commander. 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  165 

"  Pay  no  attention  to  his  signals,"  shouted  the 
lieutenant,  "  but  crowd  all  canvas  and  sail  by ;  we 
have  the  wind  in  our  favor,  and  can  give  him  the 
slip."  When  his  choice  lay  only  between  accepting 
Captain  Morgan's  conditions  or  death  it  had  never 
occurred  to  Willie  that  he  would  not  embrace  the 
first  opportunity  of  escape  from  the  pirates  which 
might  open  before  him,  but  he  was  destined  to  sur- 
prise himself  and  his  captain  as  well,  by  voluntarily 
turning  his  back  upon  a  return  to  England  with  all 
its  honorable  possibilities,  and  demanding  that  his 
boat  should  be  lowered  and  his  negroes  allowed  to 
row  him  to  the  pirate  ship.  If  Stuy  vesant  had  been 
on  deck  he  would  not  have  been  permitted  any 
choice  in  the  matter ;  but  Willie  was  so  peremptory 
that  he  was  allowed  to  depart,  much  to  the  distress 
of  honest  William  Yan  der  Yelde. 

To  Captain  Morgan  his  decision  was  most  grati- 
fying. "I  was  afraid  you  might  slip  me,  Willie; 
forgive  me  that  I  misjudged  you.  You  shall 
never  regret  the  stand  you  have  taken  this  day. 
I'll  share  with  you  share  and  share  alike.  As 
they  say  in  the  marriage  service  for  'better  or 
for  worse'  half  of  the  better  and  half  of  the 
worser." 

They  were  now  embarked  in  good  earnest  for 
Margarita.  Morgan  had  found  an  abundance  of 


166  ANN  EKE. 

arms  and  provisions  on  board  the  galleon,  and 
though  he  had  not  as  many  men  as  he  could  have 
wished,  he  hoped  that  the  rising  of  the  slaves  at 
Mookinga's  signals  would  supply  that  deficiency. 
At  first  he  was  angry  with  Stuyvesant  for  not 
accepting  his  overtures,  but  came  to  look  upon  the 
refusal  as  fortunate,  as  there  would  be  fewer  claim- 
ants for  the  plunder.  They  were  talking  one  day 
with  Mookinga  about  the  location  of  the  pearl  fish- 
eries and  the  manner  in  which  the  pearls  were  stored 
and  obtained,  when  Morgan  asked  Willie  whether 
it  was  true  as  he  had  heard  that  pearls  were  the  eggs 
of  oysters.  Willie  expounded  the  new  theory  of 
their  formation,  telling  how  the  origin  of  the  pearl 
had  been  the  subject  of  recent  discussion  by  the 
professor  of  natural  history  at  Leyden,  who  main- 
tained that  it  was  formed  by  the  irritation  of  a 
grain  of  sand,  or  some  other  intruding  substance, 
causing  the  oyster  to  protect  its  delicate  body,  by 
secreting  about  it  the  nacre,  the  same  beautiful  sub- 
stance with  which  its  rough  shell  is  lined.  "  If  this 
is  so,"  he  added,  "  I  would  greatly  like  to  keep  a  few 
pearl  oysters  in  a  tank  and  experiment  upon  them, 
by  introducing  shot  and  other  small  objects  within 
their  shells." 

"You  shall   have   not  alone   all  the  shells  you 
want,"  said  Mookinga,  "  but  pearls  too,  a  calabash 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  167 

of  pearls,  when  you  free  my  people.  Are  we  many 
days  distant  from  the  island  ?  " 

"  Not  many,  Mookinga.  Tell  us  how  the  negroes 
manage  the  pearl  fishing." 

Mookinga  described  the  method  as  she  had  often 
witnessed  it.  The  divers  paddling  out  in  their 
canoes  to  the  oyster  bed,  then  fastening  around 
their  bodies  one  end  of  the  rope  by  which  they  were 
to  be  hauled  up,  and  dropping  over  the  sides  of  the 
canoes  into  the  deep  water.  They  hastened  their 
sinking  by  means  of  a  heavy  stone  tied  to  their  feet, 
and  carried  with  them  a  knife,  with  which  to  dis- 
lodge the  shells  from  their  rocky  bed,  a  basket  in 
which  to  bestow  them,  and  a  sponge  dipped  in  oil. 
This  was  the  most  important  of  all  the  objects,  for 
from  it  the  diver  from  time  to  time  sucked  a  little 
of  the  air  which  the  oil  prevented  from  escaping 
through  the  water. 

When  the  negro  could  remain  no  longer  he  un- 
tied the  weight  from  his  feet,  jerked  at  the  rope, 
and  was  hauled  up  with  his  basket  of  oysters.  Five 
minutes  was  the  usual  limit  of  endurance. 

"  Were  any  very  large  pearls  found  at  Margarita 
while  you  were  there  ?  "  Morgan  asked.  In  reply 
Mookinga  told  of  a  marvellous  great  pearl  of 
the  shape  and  size  of  a  small  pear,  which  had  been 
found  long  ago,  when  a  boy,  by  an  aged  negro  of 


168  ANN  EKE. 

her  acquaintance.  It  was  so  wonderful  that  he  had 
been  given  his  freedom,  and  the  other  divers  were 
promised  that  if  its  equal  were  ever  found  they  too 
should  be  free,  but  its  like  was  never  seen.  The 
admiral  of  the  Spanish  fleet  carried  it  back  to  Spain, 
where,  she  was  told,  the  King  wore  it  in  his  hat. 
But  before  it  went  it  was  taken  into  church  and  laid 
before  the  image  of  the  virgin,  and  there  the  mis- 
sionary priest  christened  it  as  though  it  had  been  a 
baby. 

"  Stop,"  cried  "Willie.  "  I  can  tell  you  what  it 
was  christened — La  Pelegrina,  the  pilgrim.  I  have 
seen  the  pearl  and  I  know  where  it  is  now." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mookinga,  "  it  was  La  Pelegrina, 
but  wherever  it  is  it  will  bring  trouble.  The 
negroes  called  it  the  tear  of  the  All  Pitiful,  for 
they  believed  that  one  day  the  Christ,  that  the  padre 
told  us  of,  looked  down  on  Margarita,  and  when  he 
saw  the  woes  of  the  pearl  divers  he  wept,  and  this 
pearl  was  one  of  his  tears.  Certain  it  is  that  wher- 
ever it  rests  tears  will  rain." 

"  May  it  bring  no  tears  to  the  gentle  eyes  of  her 
on  whose  breast  I  saw  it  last,"  said  Willie,  fervently. 

No  attention  was  paid  to  his  remark,  for  Morgan 
now  called  upon  him  to  assist  in  planning  the  at- 
tack upon  the  fort  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor. 

It  was  Morgan's  scheme  to  land  Mookinga  and 


PEAELS  AND   TEARS.  169 

some  of  the  blacks  at  a  little  distance  from  the 
port,  two  nights  before  the  attack  was  to  be  made, 
and  thus  allow  them  to  prepare  the  slaves  for  an 
uprising.  He  then  proposed  to  hoist  the  Spanish 
colors  on  the  ship  which  he  had  captured,  and  sail 
boldly  by  the  fort  into  the  harbor,  followed  by  the 
Black  Lady.  This  was  only  to  be  done  if  there 
were  no  Spanish  men-of-war  in  the  harbor, — as  it 
was  madness  to  attempt  an  attack  if  the  Plate  fleet 
were  stopping  for  a  cargo  of  pearls. 

Fortunately  for  the  pirate's  attack,  but  not  for  his 
gathering,  the  Spanish  fleet  had  just  made  its  col- 
lection and  had  sailed  away.  The  commander  of 
the  Castle  allowed  the  two  vessels  to  pass  unchal- 
lenged, for  he  recognized  the  galleon  which  had 
provisioned  here,  and  had  not  heard  of  the  result  of 
its  attack  on  St.  Martin. 

All  happened  exactly  as  Morgan  had  planned. 
As  soon  as  the  ships  appeared  before  the  town, 
a  conflagration,  set  by  the  slaves,  broke  out 
in  the  suburbs,  and,  while  the  inhabitants  rushed 
to  extinguish  it,  Morgan  landed  his  men  unop- 
posed, and,  with  the  assistance  of  the  negroes,  bar- 
ricaded all  the  city  gates  opening  toward  the 
country,  while  he  looted  the  principal  buildings. 

It  is  not  the  writer's  intention  to  describe  the 
horrors  of  one  of  Morgan's  raids,  the  indiscriminate 


170  ANNEKE. 

massacre  and  wanton  cruelty ;  aged  people  tortured 
in  the  hope  of  gaining  information  of  hidden  treas- 
ure, priests  murdered  before  the  altar  and  the 
sacred  vessels  and  vestments  seized.  For  a  little 
while  men  seemed  changed  to  fiends.  Willie  was 
everywhere  striving  to  protect  and  to  intercede  for 
the  unfortunates,  but  the  memory  of  that  day  of 
carnage,  followed  by  a  night  of  riot,  remained  with 
him  until  his  death.  Morgan  was  furious  to  find 
that  the  pearls  had  just  been  shipped  to  Spain,  and 
that  his  plunder  was  after  all  hardly  worth  the 
pains.  He  took  what  he  could  of  miscellaneous 
booty,  and  about  sixty  of  the  negroes  led  by  Mook- 
inga  trooped  on  board  the  galleon,  when  he  gave 
the  order  to  put  to  sea.  Margarita  was  in  the  track 
of  Spanish  commerce,  and  it  was  dangerous  to  re- 
main here  longer  than  necessary.  The  descent  had 
been  sudden,  the  blow  swift  and  terrible,  but  flight 
must  be  immediate.  As  it  was,  the  garrison  at  the 
fort  had  become  alarmed  and  the  pirates  feared 
that  they  would  have  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  its 
guns  in  leaving.  But  a  negro  pilot  guided  them 
through  a  channel  known  only  to  the  pearl  divers, 
quite  out  of  reach  of  the  cannon,  and  when  the 
island  faded  from  view  they  were  gliding  as  safely 
and  peacefully  on  their  way  as  though  their  errand 
had  not  been  one  of  death.  It  was  in  vain  that 


PEAELS  AND   TEARS.  171 

Willie  told  himself  that  these  people  were  Span- 
iards, enemies  both  of  the  English  and  the  Dutch ; 
war  had  never  seemed  so  hideous  to  him  and  he 
was  sick  at  heart.  There  was  only  one  redeeming 
feature  to  it  all, — the  slaves  had  obtained  their 
freedom.  They  were  squatted  upon  the  after  deck 
in  a  circle  around  Mookinga,  who  was  telling  them 
of  the  beauties  of  the  mountain  village  in  Jamaica 
to  which  she  believed  they  were  bound. 

As  Willie  looked  at  these  poor  creatures  and  saw 
their  stolid  faces  lighten  with  something  like  hope, 
he  strove  to  console  himself  with  the  thought  that 
some  good  was  to  come  out  of  all  this  cruelty.  He 
was  speaking  encouragingly  to  Mookinga  when 
Captain  Morgan  called  him  to  join  him  in  the 
cabin. 

"  I  have  been  dividing  the  prizes  ; "  he  said  to 
Willie,  "  each  man  has  his  share,  and  now  it  is  our 
turn.  I  have  said  that  we  should  share  alike,  and  I 
will  do  even  better  by  you  than  I  promised,  for  you 
shall  take  your  choice  of  the  two  lots  which  I  have 
reserved.  There  is  one,"  (pointing  to  a  small  cala- 
bash of  pearls  which  lay  on  his  bed).  "  Mookinga 
kept  her  promise,  and  brought  these  to  me.  See, 
they  are  all  fine  ones,  secreted  from  time  to  time, 
by  the  divers.  If  it  were  not  for  Mookinga  we 
would  have  had  almost  no  pearls.  You  have  doubt- 


1T2  ANNEKE. 

less  some  sweetheart,  in  England  or  elsewhere,  who 
will  know  what  to  do  with  those  baubles,  but  if 
they  are  not  to  your  mind  then  you  may  have  what 
I  consider  a  fair  equivalent  in  value." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  Willie. 

"  The  sixty  slaves  of  Margarita,  and  the  twenty 
we  took  on  board  at  Jamaica.  They  are  fine,  able- 
bodied  negroes,  and  they  will  bring  a  good  price 
from  the  Dutch  planters  of  Caracao,  where  we  are 
now  bound." 

Willie  started.  "But  you  promised  Mookinga 
that  you  would  set  her  people  at  liberty,  if  they 
would  help  you  against  the  Spaniards  and  give  you 
these  pearls ! " 

"  What  is  a  promise  to  a  negress  ?  "  the  Captain 
asked,  scornfully. 

"  An  honorable  man's  promise  is  his  promise,  no 
matter  to  whom  it  is  given,"  Willie  replied,  simply. 

"  Do  you  dare  to  preach  to  me  ?  "  Morgan  asked, 
laying  his  hand  on  his  sword. 

"  No,  Captain  Morgan,  but  I  beg  of  you  to  take 
these  negroes  to  Jamaica,  according  to  your  agree- 
ment." 

"  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  If  you  choose 
them  as  your  share  of  the  plunder,  you  may  take 
them  where  you  please.  If  you  choose  the  pearls,  I 
shall  trade  the  negroes  for  a  cargo  of  that  fine  liqueur 


PEARLS  AND   TEARS.  173 

the  Dutch  make  from  the  oranges  of  Cara£ao.  We 
shall  reach  the  island  some  time  to-morrow.  I  shall 
let  the  blacks  remain  at  liberty  until  just  before  I 
land  them ;  they  will  be  in  better  condition,  and 
there  is  no  need  of  clapping  them  into  irons  until 
just  as  they  are  coming  on  deck  in  the  morning." 

"And  after  you  have  obtained  your  cargo  of 
liqueur,  what  do  you  intend  to  do?"  Willie 
asked. 

"  Then  I  shall  sail  north  for  Tortuga.  I  heard  at 
St.  Eustatius  that  the  buccaneers  were  back  again. 
I  shall  dispose  of  my  cordial  at  a  good  price,  and 
organize  an  expedition  to  come  down  this  way  again, 
and  take  Maracaibo.  It  is  the  centre  for  the  over- 
land trade  from  Peru.  I  would  attack  it  now  were 
I  strong  enough,  but  Margarita  was  child's  play  to 
what  we  have  before  us  there.  Stay  by  me  in  this 
venture,  Willie,  and  your  fortune  will  be  made. 
You  will  be  as  rich  as  a  king,  richer  than  some 
kings  I  know  of.  Come,  which  will  you  have,  the 
pearls  or  the  niggers  ?  Because,  if  you  want  to  take 
Mookinga  and  her  people  to  Jamaica,  there  is  no 
need  of  our  going  to  Caracao,  and  we  will  steer  for 
the  north  at  once.  I'll  land  your  company  where  I 
took  Mookinga  aboard,  and  I'll  land  you  with  them, 
for  I've  no  use  for  such  a  fool  at  Tortuga." 

As  the  Captain  spoke  he  lifted  a  handful  of  pearls 


174  ANN  EKE. 

from  the  calabash  and  let  them  trickle  slowly 
through  his  fingers. 

Was  it  some  glamour  of  Satan  ?  As  Willie  looked, 
the  ugly  face  of  Morgan  faded  from  vie\v,  and  he 
saw  instead  Anneke,  as  she  had  looked  in  Rem- 
brandt's studio  when  he  had  promised  to  seek  the 
pearls  of  Margarita.  He  saw  himself  come  softly 
behind  her  and  shower  the  pearls  over  her  white 
shoulders.  They  rolled  around  her  snowy  throat 
and  nestled  in  her  corsage,  then  dripped  as 
from  the  overflowing  brim  of  a  fountain  into  her 
lap,  where  her  small  hands  played  with  them.  He 
could  not  see  her  face,  for  it  was  turned  from  him, 
but  he  remembered  vividly  her  last  words  in  that 
bitter  parting,  "  I  will  believe  you  when  you  fill  my 
lap  with  pearls." 

He  came  out  of  his  reverie  with  a  start, — but  it 
was  all  possible, — the  ship  was  cutting  through  the 
blue  water  merrily.  To-morrow  they  would  be  at 
Cura£ao,  and  Anneke  was  there ! 

Morgan  was  still  playing  with  the  pearls  and  re- 
garding him  with  an  evil  smile.  "  Well,  which  do 
you  choose,"  he  asked,  "  the  negroes  or  the  pearls  ?  " 
and  Willie  answered  mechanically  (or  was  it  a 
tempting  fiend  at  his  side  who  answered  for  him  ?), 
"  I  choose  the  pearls." 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE   SURVIVAL   OF  THE   FITTEST. 

v 

Our  life  is  like  a  narrow  raft 
Afloat  upon  the  hungry  sea, 
Hereon  is  but  a  little  space 
And  each  man  eager  for  a  place 
Doth  thrust  his  brother  in  the  sea. 

— From  an  old  Manuscript. 

IFTER  MS  decision 

Willie  passed  a  trou- 
bled night.  The  heat 
was  stifling,  and  he 
left  his  hammock  to 
pace  the  deck.  Mook- 
inga  was  seated  far 
forward,  like  a  carven 
figure-head,  above  the 
prow.  She  was  strain- 
ing her  eyes  for  the 
first  view  of  land,  for 

she  believed  that  they  were  nearing  Jamaica.  But 
the  breezes  during  the  night  had  been  light  and 
baffling,  and  there  was  no  land  in  sight.  Willie 
avoided  her.  Her  unquestioning  faith  and  eager 

175 


176  ANNEKE. 

expectation  were  alike  a  reproach  to  him,  and  he 
strode  toward  the  stern  where  Morgan  was  talking 
to  the  man  at  the  helm. 

"We  shall  not  reach  Cura£ao  to-day,"  he  said, 
"unless  the  wind  freshens.  We  have  made  little 
headway.  The  negroes  may  as  well  have  their 
liberty  as  usual,  for  even  should  we  make  Willem- 
stadt  this  afternoon  there  is  no  need  of  landing  the 
slaves  until  we  have  sold  them.  As  you  understand 
the  Dutch  language  better  than  I  do,  Willie,  you 
may  take  the  long  boat,  go  ashore,  bargain  with 
the  planters,  and  if  you  find  any  who  wish  to  pur- 
chase slaves  bring  them  back  with  you." 

This  was  exactly  the  opportunity  which  Willie 
wished.  All  day  long  he  paced  feverishly  too  and 
fro.  All  day  long  his  good  genius  fought  the  battle 
over  with  him,  and,  vanquished  at  every  encounter, 
at  length  sadly  left  him  to  his  baser  self.  When 
the  sun  set,  the  island  of  Cura9ao  was  outlined 
against  the  fiery  sky  as  though  it  floated  before  a 
blazing  furnace.  Blood-red  clouds  succeeded  the 
sea  of  flame  as  the  sun  sank  below  the  horizon,  and 
the  town  was  silhouetted  black  and  sinister  against 
them. 

Willie  had  never  seen  a  more  ominous  portent  in 
the  heavens,  but  he  buckled  the  pearls  within  his 
doublet,  and  descended  into  the  long  boat  recklessly 


I'KTKK    STUVVF.SANT. 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      1T7 

unscrupulous,  saying  to  himself  that  if  all  that  phan- 
tasmagoria of  fire  and  blood  were  literal  flame  and 
slaughter,  and  lay  between  him  and  Anneke,  instead 
of  beyond  the  island,  he  would  have  dared  to  pass 
through  it  to  reach  her. 

He  stood  erect  in  the  boat  and  threw  his  slouched 
cavalier  hat  on  a  thwart,  to  let  the  breeze  cool  his 
forehead,  and  the  better  to  direct  the  landing. 
Morgan  had  said  as  they  pulled  away  that  if  he 
found  it  desirable  to  spend  the  night  on  shore  he 
might  do  so,  and  as  Willie  sprang  on  the  dock  he 
told  the  men  to  row  back  to  the  ship,  and  to  call 
for  him  again  in  the  morning. 

Several  Dutchmen,  who  had  watched  Willie's  ap- 
proach with  curiosity,  accosted  him ;  and  fortunately 
for  Willie  there  was  among  them  the  artist,  William 
Yan  der  Yelde,  who  had  been  attracted  to  the  pier 
by  the  wonderful  sunset. 

He  greeted  Willie  cordially,  and  led  him  toward 
his  own  lodging,  urging  him  to  dine  with  him,  and 
proffering  every  service  in  his  power. 

Willie  made  brief  explanation  and  asked  to  be 
directed  to  Governor  Stuyvesant's  bowery,  where 
he  knew  that  Anneke  was  visiting. 

"I  will  conduct  you  there  with  pleasure,"  said 
Yan  der  Yelde.  "  I  was  at  the  house  only  yester- 
day, and  we  talked  much  of  you.  Your  friend, 


178  ANNEKE. 

Kiliaen,  spoke  of  you  with  much  affection.  It  is  a 
pity  that  he  went  away  this  morning  to  be  gone  a 
month.  A  transport  left  for  Maracaibo,  to  barter 
salt,  which  we  manufacture  in  these  islands,  for 
beef  with  the  hunters  and  herders  of  the  great 
plains.  There  is  a  rumor  that  diamonds  have  been 
discovered  beyond  the  mountains,  and  Kiliaen  was 
audacious  enough  to  venture  an  attempt  to  trade 
for  it.  The  Plate  fleet  has  sailed  for  Spain.  She 
was  sighted  as  she  passed  this  port.  It  would  have 
been  unfortunate  for  the  youth  had  she  been  lying 
at  Maracaibo  when  he  arrived,  for  Spain  brooks  no 
smuggling  of  gold  or  precious  stones  from  her  pos- 
sessions." 

Thus  discoursing,  the  honest  painter  conducted 
"Willie  by  boat  along  the  lagoon  of  the  Schottegat, 
to  the  home  of  Director  Stuy  vesant  in  the  suburb  of 
the  Oberzijde.  The  moon  had  risen  and  lent  its 
witchery  to  the  tropical  night.  Great  tree  ferns 
and  palms  were  reflected  in  the  canal,  and  the  stars 
came  out  in  diamond-like  brilliancy  in  the  clear 
sky.  As  they  came  in  sight  of  the  low  country 
house  with  its  wide  verandas  Willie  could  hear  the 
tinkle  of  a  mandolin  and  a  woman's  voice  singing. 
He  caught,  too,  the  gleam  of  white  dresses,  and  he 
knew  that  for  the  first  time  in  two  years  he  was 
to  enter  the  presence  of  European  women, — and 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      179 

that  Anneke,  the  last  to  dismiss  him  from  civilized 
society,  would  be  the  first  to  greet  him.  How 
would  she  welcome  him?  His  parting  from  her 
had  left  him  no  ground  for  hope,  but  in  spite  of  it 
hope  had  lingered,  and  passionate  love  had  leaped 
up  again  when  he  knew  that  she  was  near.  But 
now  a  great  timidity  overpowered  him. 

"  Go  forward,  Yan  der  Velde,"  he  begged,  "  pave 
the  way  for  me.  Tell  her  I  am  here  and  ask  if  she 
will  receive  me." 

He  drew  quite  near  under  the  protecting  shadow 
of  the  orange  trees,  and  the  faint  sweet  perfume  of 
their  starry  flowers  sacred  to  happy  brides,  lingered 
in  his  memory  for  many  a  weary  day. 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  music.  Yan  der  Yelde 
was  greeted  courteously,  then  he  evidently  apolo- 
gized for  interrupting  and  begged  her  to  continue 
her  song.  Willie  heard  again  the  familiar  notes  of 
his  mandolin,  and  her  sweet  voice  singing — what 
but  one  of  his  own  English  songs,  which  he  had 
taught  Kiliaen  at  Leyden,  and  which  he  in  turn 
had  taught  Anneke !  The  words  were  by  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  and  were  written  when  he  turned  longingly 
from  the  thought  of  fighting  and  exploring  in  these 
very  waters  to  the  companionship  of  his  wife  at 
his  beloved  Sherburne. 

Liquid  and  clear  as  the  sound  of  water  falling 


180  ANNEKE. 

from  a  fountain  the  words  fell  upon  his  spirit  and 
cooled  its  passion. 

He  could  see  her  face,  now  calm  and  yet  touched 
with  sadness,  and,  all  unconscious  of  his  presence, 
she  seemed  to  be  declining  the  gift  which  he  had 
brought  her  as  she  sang. 

"  Go,  let  the  diving  negro  seek 
For  pearls  hid  in  some  Indian  creek. 
We  all  pearls  scorn, 
Save  those  the  dewy  morn 
Congeals  upon  some  little  spires  of  grass 
Which  careless  shepherds  beat  down  as  they  pass  ; 
For  we  who  love  are  ne'er  forlorn 
We  all  pearls  scorn. ' ' 

Anneke  laid  aside  the  instrument,  and  said 
sweetly,  "That  is  what  I  said  to  my  husband 
when  he  went  on  this  dangerous  expedition.  Are 
we  not  rich  enough,  I  asked,  with  our  love  for  each 
other  ?  Would  all  the  gems  of  the  world  make  up 
for  his  death  ?  "What  if  he  should  be  held  a  captive 
by  the  Spaniards,  or  fall  in  with  those  terrible 
pirates !  I  do  not  know  why,  but  I  am  oppressed 
with  a  sense  of  evil  lurking  near.  I  shall  not  be 
quite  at  ease  until  I  have  my  husband  safely  back 
again." 

It  was  the  first  intimation  that  Willie  had  had 
of  her  marriage,  and  was  a  great  shock.  For  a  mo- 
ment he  lost  consciousness  of  what  they  were  say- 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST      181 

ing,  and  lay  on  his  face  on  the  ground  tearing  up 
the  grass  convulsively  with  his  hands.  After  a 
short  time  he  mastered  himself  and  listened.  He 
felt  that  he  would  never  have  the  privilege  of  hear- 
ing her  voice  again,  and  every  word  was  precious. 

He  had  only  lost  Yan  der  Yelde's  explanation 
that  he  had  come  to  Cura£ao  and  begged  an  inter- 
view, and  now  Anneke  was  replying. 

"  If  Kiliaen  were  here  he  would  be  glad  to  see 
him,  but  I  cannot  imagine  any  errand  that  he 
can  have  with  me."  She  was  silent  for  a  moment 
and  then  added,  "We  parted  in  anger;  tell  him 
for  me  that  if  I  was  mistaken  and  did  him  wrong, 
if  under  false  appearances  he  was,  and  still  is,  a 
man  of  honor,  then  Anneke  Yan  Rensselaer  begs 
his  forgiveness,  but  this  is  all  that  I  could  ever  have 
to  say  to  him ;  and  it  is  perhaps  better  that  he  should 
hear  it  from  your  lips  rather  than  from  my  own." 

Willie  staggered  to  his  feet  and  hurried  back  to 
the  boat.  When  the  crushing  blow  had  first  fallen 
upon  him  there  had  come  with  it  the  temptation  to 
end  the  agony,  there  in  the  orange  grove, — with  his 
small  sharp  poniard  to  let  her  find  him  there  with 
the  pearls  in  his  dead  hand.  Then  her  message  had 
awakened  his  better  nature.  He  acknowledged  to 
himself  that  his  punishment  was  just,  that  if  he 
had  not  been  base  when  she  thought  him  so,  he 


182  ANNEXE. 

had  fallen  now  beneath  her  contempt.  Death  is 
sometimes  so  much  easier  than  long  expiation.  But 
he  could  not  die  and  leave  matters  as  they  were. 
He  had  made  a  bargain  with  Satan  and  had  taken 
his  wage — worse  than  that,  he  had  brought  it  to 
bribe  her  love.  Thank  heaven,  he  had  been  pre- 
vented from  doing  so,  and  possibly  it  was  not  too 
late  to  recover  his  lost  honor. 

Van  der  Velde  found  Willie  a  little  later  and  gave 
him  Anneke's  message.  He  was  glad  to  hear  it 
over  again.  "  Tell  her,"  he  said,  "  to-morrow,  after 
I  have  gone,  that  I  shall  make  it  the  ambition  of 
my  life  to  be  worthy  of  her  respect." 

He  declined  the  painter's  insistance  that  he 
should  remain  with  him  until  the  next  day,  and 
rowed  back  to  the  Black  Lady,  where  his  appear- 
ance greatly  surprised  Captain  Morgan,  who  did 
not  expect  him  until  the  morning.  But  the  buc- 
caneer was  destined  to  still  greater  astonishment, 
when  Willie  informed  him  that  he  had  not  offered 
the  blacks  for  sale  because  he  wished  to  reconsider 
his  choice  and  return  the  pearls.  It  had  not 
occurred  to  Willie  to  leave  as  much  as  one  for 
Anneke.  They  had  been  purchased  by  an  act  of 
villainy,  and  now  that  her  words  had  awakened  his 
conscience  he  hastened — like  Judas — to  return  the 
price  of  blood  and  treachery.  He  was  more  fortu- 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST      183 

nate  than  Judas,  for  Morgan  greedily  accepted  the 
exchange,  saying,  "  You  are  a  fool,  Willie  Nicoll, 
the  pearls  are  worth  twice  as  much  as  the  niggers; 
I  have  been  kicking  myself  ever  since  I  gave  you 
the  choice.  I  suppose  you  think  it  will  be  a  fine 
thing  to  reign  as  a  king  over  them  in  that  Jamaica 
volcano,  but  you  will  soon  be  sick  of  your  bargain." 

"I  shall  not  land  with  them,"  Willie  replied, 
"unless  you  maroon  me,  Captain  Morgan.  I  am 
tired  of  the  Spanish  Main,  and,  if  you  will  permit 
me,  I  will  return  to  England  at  the  first  opportu- 
nity." 

The  Captain's  eyes  protruded  from  his  head. 
"Return  to  England  empty  handed,  when  you 
might  have  had  a  calabash  full  of  pearls.  Well  of 
all  blathering  idiots !  " 

He  cursed  himself  for  a  still  greater  fool  for 
landing  the  blacks  on  the  island  of  Jamaica,  and 
perhaps  might  not  have  kept  his  word  and  done 
so  had  he  not  feared  that  Willie  would  denounce 
him  to  Mookinga,  and  that  a  mutiny  would  have 
been  the  result  of  treachery  on  his  part. 

Willie  stood  by  the  gangplank  expecting  to  be 
ordered  off  after  the  last  negro  had  gone  on  shore, 
but  Morgan  called  to  him  surlily  that  their  next 
destination  was  Tortuga  and  he  might  come  with 
him  or  not  as  he  chose. 


184  ANNEKE. 

At  Tortuga  they  found  no  ships  bound  for 
Europe,  but  an  unusually  large  number  of  buc- 
caneers returned  from  various  cruises  waiting  for 
some  new  adventure.  The  sight  of  Morgan's  pearls 
excited  their  cupidity;  and  when  he  announced 
that  he  was  ready  to  head  an  attack  on  the  wealthy 
Spanish  city  of  Maracaibo,  he  had  no  lack  of  vol- 
unteers. 

In  a  few  days  ships  were  provisioned  and  armed, 
and  one  of  the  strongest  piratical  fleets  which  had 
ever  sailed  from  Tortuga  was  ready  to  set  out  on  a 
career  of  rapine. 

Willie  watched  the  preparations  with  disgust  and 
sad  forebodings.  He  knew  too  well  the  cruelty  of 
these  lawless  men  and  their  unprincipled  leader, 
and  from  his  heart  he  pitied  the  poor  Spanish  set- 
tlers at  Maracaibo.  He  had  intended  to  wait  at 
Tortuga  for  an  opportunity  to  return  to  England, 
but  the  evening  before  Morgan's  expedition  sailed 
it  suddenly  occurred  to  him  that  Kiliaen  Yan  Rens- 
selaer  had  gone  to  Maracaibo,  and  that,  allowing 
for  the  time  which  it  probably  takes  to  make  his 
trip  to  the  mountains  and  to  return,  he  would  very 
likely  be  in  the  city  when  the  pirates  proposed  to 
attack  it. 

He  at  once  called  upon  the  Captain,  told  him  of 
the  circumstance,  and  begged  him  to  order  his  men 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      185 

to  spare  all  the  Dutchmen,  and  especially  Kiliaen, 
if  he  fell  into  their  hands. 

"  That  is  easier  said  than  done,  Willie  Nicoll," 
replied  Morgan.  "  When  one  is  in  the  heat  of  an 
assault  one  has  not  time  to  ask  the  name  and  na- 
tionality of  a  man  before  striking.  If  you  wish  to 
protect  your  friends,  either  in  Curacao  or  elsewhere, 
come  along  with  us,  Willie.  If  your  conscience  will 
not  let  you  fight,  join  our  hospital  corps.  You  did 
good  service  after  the  attack  on  Margarita  in  band- 
aging wounds,  and  I  know  that  Mookinga  gave  you 
some  of  her  simples,  especially  that  magical  herb 
with  which  she  stanched  the  flow  of  blood.  Come 
and  use  it  for  us.  You  need  not  strike  a  single 
blow,  and  if  we  are  taken  prisoners  I  will  testify 
that  you  are  a  non-combatant." 

Willie  knew  that  such  testimony  would  avail  him 
little,  for  a  man  is  frequently  hanged — as  well  as 
known — from  the  company  he  keeps ;  but  it  was 
true  that  Mookinga  had  given  him  some  witch- 
hazel,  whose  virtues  were  little  known  at  this  time, 
together  with  the  wonderful  "  Jesuit's  powder,"  or 
quinine,  which  was  so  efficacious  in  fevers.  Willie 
had,  too,  such  a  smattering  of  surgery  as  might  now 
be  considered  "  first  help "  for  the  wounded,  and 
which  any  red  cross  stretcher  bearer  might  give  be- 
fore the  surgeon  made  his  rounds.  There  was  no 


186  ANNEKE. 

surgeon  on  board  the  Black  Lady,  and  only  one  in 
all  the  pirate  fleet,  and  common  humanity  seemed 
to  plead  with  Captain  Morgan. 

"  I  will  go,"  Willie  replied,  promptly,  "  if  you 
will  promise  not  to  attack  Cura£ao,  will  allow  me 
to  intercede  for  a  Spaniard  as  my  fee  for  every  one 
of  your  men  whom  I  serve,  and  will  also  let  me  wait 
on  the  enemy's  wounded  if  I  have  opportunity  and 
time  after  treating  yours." 

"Willie,  Willie,  what  a  lunatic  you  are;  but 
there  is  no  withstanding  you,  my  lad,  only  try  me 
not  too  far.  Come  not  between  me  and  my  victim 
when  I  am  either  angry  or  drunk." 

"  And  when  are  you  not  either  one  or  the  other  ?  " 
thought  Willie,  but  he  was  wise  enough  not  to  ask 
this  question  aloud. 

It  was  well  for  the  little  colony  at  Curapao  that 
Willie  Nicoll  decided  to  accompany  Captain  Mor- 
gan, for  when  the  ship  approached  that  isle  of  the 
orange  it  needed  all  of  Willie's  most  eloquent  per- 
suasion to  keep  the  pirates  from  looting  the  Dutch 
distilleries,  and  possessing  themselves  of  a  cargo  of 
the  famous  Dutch  schnaps.  "  They  say  that  Cura- 
pao  is  the  finest  of  all  liqueurs,  Willie,"  pleaded  Cap- 
tain Morgan,  "  and  I  have  such  a  thirst,  my  lad. 
That  cognac  which  we  laid  in  at  Tortuga,  is  detest- 
able." 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      187 

Willie  assured  the  Captain  that  the  liqueur  of 
which  he  spoke  was  much  overestimated,  "  for,"  said 
he,  "  during  my  brief  call  at  the  island  my  friend, 
Yan  der  Yeldt,  made  me  take  a  glass  with  him, 
and  he  told  me  that  instead  of  being  made  solely 
from  the  small  oranges  of  Curacao  it  is  manufac- 
tured from  distilled  spirits  colored  with  powdered 
Brazil-wood,  mellowed  with  burned  brown  sugar 
and  flavored  with  orange-peel  and  cloves.  I  can 
make  you  all  the  Cura9ao  you  wish  without  going 
near  the  Dutch,  who  I  assure  you  are  strongly  for- 
tified, so  that  it  would  be  no  easy  matter  to  take 
their  island." 

Willie  argued  so  well  that  the  pirates  sailed  by 
the  Dutch  islands,  through  the  great  Gulf  of  Mar- 
acaibo,  and  silencing  the  guns  of  the  castle  which 
commanded  the  straits  between  the  open  gulf  and 
the  inland  sea  or  Lake  of  Maracaibo,  arrived  in 
force  before  the  doomed  city. 

Here  only  an  ineffectual  defence  was  made  by 
the  inhabitants,  the  women  fleeing  in  a  small  ship 
to  Gibraltar,  a  town  at  the  other  end  of  the  lake. 
For  weeks  the  pirates  rioted  in  the  unfortunate 
city,  torturing  the  inhabitants  to  make  them  give 
up  their  treasures  and  demanding  an  enormous  sum 
before  they  would  agree  to  leave.  When  this  was 
paid,  and  they  sailed,  it  was  not  to  return  to  the 


188  ANN  EKE. 

Caribbean,  but  to  pay  a  devastating  visit  to  Gib- 
raltar. Here  there  was  even  more  blood  shed  than 
at  Maracaibo,  for  some  Spanish  soldiers  came  down 
from  a  fort  in  the  mountains,  and  their  resistance 
so  infuriated  Morgan  that  his  victory  ended  in  a 
general  massacre.  At  Maracaibo  Willie  had  made 
many  inquiries  for  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  he 
was  relieved  to  find  that  he  had  not  returned  from 
the  mountains.  What  was  Willie's  horror,  there- 
fore, on  the  attack  of  the  Spanish  soldiers  to  recog- 
nize his  friend  fighting  at  the  side  of  their  Captain. 
Morgan,  who  was  as  daring  as  he  was  wicked, 
engaged  the  Captain  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle,  and 
felled  him  to  the  earth.  While  he  was  stooping,  in 
the  endeavor  to  regain  his  cutlass,  which  had  been 
wrenched  from  his  hand  by  the  fall  of  his  victim, 
Kiliaen  flew  at  him,  and  would  certainly  have 
wounded  him  severely  if  Willie  had  not  sent  his 
friend's  light  rapier  flying  from  his  hand  by  a  blow 
from  his  own  sword.  Then  thrusting  Kiliaen  to 
the  ground  he  held  him  there  firmly  until  Morgan 
and  his  men  had  rushed  past  him  after  the  retreat- 
ing Spaniards.  When  the  last  buccaneer  had  passed 
Willie  loosened  his  hold,  exclaiming,  "  It  is  I, 
Kiliaen  ;  I  did  it  to  save  your  life.  Quick,  help  me 
get  these  wounded  men  into  the  church,  and 
when  Morgan  finds  you  at  work  there  with  me  he 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      189 

will  never  suspect  that  you  have  just  failed  in  an 
attempt  to  kill  him." 

Kiliaen  gave  one  look  toward  the  pirates  who 
were  slaughtering  the  Spaniards,  despite  the  fact 
that  they  had  thrown  away  their  arms  and  were 
begging  for  quarter. 

"  I  accept  my  life  at  your  hands,  Willie  Mcoll," 
he  said  reproachfully,  "  and  I  will  not  ask  how  it  is 
I  find  you  here,  for  other  things  more  difficult  of 
belief  have  happened  than  that  you  should  be  a 
pirate." 

He  aided  Willie  all  that  afternoon  and  late  into 
the  night,  and  when  at  last  they  both  ceased  their 
labors  of  mercy  from  sheer  exhaustion,  he  drew 
Willie's  head  down  upon  his  shoulder  and  mur- 
mured, "  You  need  not  explain,  Willie,  I  believe  in 
you  in  spite  of  everything." 

When  Morgan  was  finally  ready  to  sail  for  home, 
he  stopped  at  Maracaibo  to  collect  the  ransom  which 
he  had  demanded  for  not  burning  all  the  houses. 
This  ransom  was  twenty  thousand  pieces  of  eight 
(or  silver  dollars),  and  five  hundred  beeves,  which 
the  drovers  had  been  sent  to  the  plains  to  gather. 
Here  he  learned  that  three  Spanish  men-of-war  had 
arrived  at  the  entry  of  the  lake,  and  waited  for  his 
return  in  the  narrow  strait  in  front  of  the  castle. 
Having  sent  a  boat  to  reconnoitre,  it  returned  with 


190  ANNEKE. 

the  unwelcome  intelligence  that  the  ships  were 
much  stronger  than  their  own,  one  of  them  being 
mounted  with  forty  guns  and  the  smallest  with 
twenty-four. 

This  created  a  general  panic  among  the  bucca- 
neers, who  saw  themselves  caught  like  rats  in  a  trap. 
Morgan  alone  was  undaunted,  and  sent  one  of  his 
Spanish  prisoners  to  the  admiral  of  the  ship  with 
an  impudent  demand  for  ransom  for  the  lives  of 
such  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maracaibo  as  still  re- 
mained in  his  power,  with  leave  to  pass  unattacked 
from  the  lake  to  the  open  sea. 

But  the  Spanish  admiral  was  made  of  more  val- 
iant stuff  than  to  take  his  orders  from  a  pirate,  and 
he  replied  as  follows  : 

"  Having  understood  that  you  have  dared  to 
commit  hostilities  in  the  dominions  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty  I  let  you  understand  that  I  have  come  unto 
that  castle  which  you  took  out  of  the  hands  of  a 
parcel  of  cowards,  where  I  have  remounted  the 
artillery.  My  intention  is  to  dispute  with  you  your 
passage  out  of  the  lake,  and  to  follow  and  pursue  you 
everywhere  to  the  end  that  you  may  see  the  per- 
formance of  my  duty.  Notwithstanding,  if  you  be 
contented  to  surrender  all  you  have  taken,  I  will  let 
you  freely  pass.  But  in  case  you  make  any  resist- 
ance I  will  cause  you  utterly  to  perish  by  putting 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      191 

every  man  to  the  sword.     This  is  my  last  and  abso- 
lute resolution. 

"  Dated  on  board  the  Royal  Ship  Magdalen,  lying 
at  anchor  at  the  entry  of  Lake  Maracaibo. 

"  DON  ALONZO  DEL  CAMPO  of  Espinosa."  l 

Morgan  himself  was  daunted  at  this  brave  reply 
for  he  had  no  desire  to  fight  the  Spanish  fleet,  but 
one  of  the  pirates  now  suggested  a  device  of  in- 
fernal ingenuity.  This  was  to  construct  a  "  brulot " 
or  fire  ship  from  the  Spanish  sloop  which  they  had 
taken  at  Gibraltar.  They  mounted  logs  of  wood 
to  represent  cannon,  and  nailed  a  quantity  of  poles 
upright  on  the  deck,  on  which  they  hung  cloaks 
and  sombreros  from  the  shops  of  Maracaibo,  which 
gave  the  ship  the  appearance  of  being  well 
manned.  They  displayed  the  English  colors  and 
then  filled  the  ship  with  a  cargo  of  pitch,  tar 
and  brimstone.  Twelve  men,  among  whom  was 
Kiliaen,  were  ordered  to  navigate  the  "  brulot " 
until  it  reached  the  Spanish  ships,  when  they 
would  set  fire  to  the  inflammable  materials, 
spring  into  the  water,  and  take  their  chances 
of  escape.  Hitherto  Willie  had  taken  no  part  in 
the  hostilities  but  when  he  saw  Kiliaen  go  on  board 
the  fire  ship  he  immediately  volunteered  for  the 

1  This  letter  has  been  preserved  to  us  by  Esquemeling,  one  of  the 
pirates,  who  was  on  this  expedition. 


192  ANN  EKE. 

same  service.  A  light  breeze  aided  the  current. 
The  men  grappled  the  "  brulot "  to  the  largest  of 
the  Spanish  ships.  The  instant  this  was  accom- 
plished they  all  jumped  and  swam  for  their  lives  for 
the  next  ship,  Morgan's  own,  which  had  lowered  a 
boat  to  pick  them  up.  The  last  to  leap  had  flung 
a  lighted  torch  upon  a  great  pool  of  tar  in  which 
stood  a  barrel  of  gunpowder.  As  he  dropped  over 
the  side  of  the  ship  he  saw  beyond  the  flames  the 
ship  swarming  with  Spaniards  who  had  boarded 
under  the  impression  that  this  was  a  regular  fight- 
ing vessel.  Then  there  was  a  loud  explosion  and 
all  the  air  was  filled  with  blazing  fragments.  Willie 
ducked,  swam  a  few  strokes  beneath  the  water,  and 
rose  to  be  hauled  into  the  boat  by  Kiliaen  whose 
hair  was  still  dripping  from  his  own  swim,  but  who 
cried  out  exultingly,  "  "We  are  all  safe,  but  Morgan 
has  dashed  on  to  attack  the  Spaniards." 

A  transport  which  followed  laden  with  the  beeves 
and  other  booty  from  the  city,  took  them  on  board 
and  they  were  able  to  see  how  fully  successful  the 
stratagem  had  been. 

The  "brulot"  had  set  fire  to  the  gallant  man-of- 
war,  which  burned  to  the  water's  edge.  The  second 
Spanish  ship  was  scuttled  by  its  own  sailors  to  pre- 
vent its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  pirates,  while 
the  men  escaped  to  the  shore  and  took  refuge  in 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      193 

the  castle.  Morgan  was  engaging  the  third  ship, 
and  very  shortly  they  saw  the  Spanish  colors 
struck,  and  knew  that  it  had  surrendered. 

The  fleet  was  destroyed,  but  it  was  evident  that 
the  castle  had  been  provided  with  new  guns  of 
greater  range  than  any  possessed  by  Morgan. 
These  were  all  pointed  across  the  strait,  and  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  a  ship  to  have 
escaped  their  aim. 

Again  Morgan  attempted  to  gain  a  free  passage 
by  negotiation,  sending  one  of  his  Spanish  prisoners 
to  say  that  only  on  these  terms  would  he  give  up 
the  men  whom  he  had  brought  from  Maracaibo. 
But  Don  Alonzo  del  Campo,  who  was  now  the 
commander  of  the  castle  instead  of  Admiral  of  a 
fleet,  gave  the  poor  men  a  sharp  reprimand  for 
their  cowardice,  saying,  "  If  you  had  been  as  loyal 
to  your  king  in  hindering  the  entry  of  these  pirates 
as  I  shall  their  going  out  you  had  never  caused 
these  troubles." 

"  Then  Captain  Morgan  assures  me  he  will  storm 
the  castle,"  said  the  messenger. 

"And  I  will  strive  to  be  more  successful  as  a 
General  of  land  forces  than  I  have  proved  as  an 
Admiral  of  the  seas,"  replied  del  Campo. 

Morgan,  who  had  learned  from  the  pilot  of  the 
Spanish  ship  which  he  had  taken  that  the  ship 


194  ANN  EKE. 

which  the  enemy  had  been  so  anxious  to  sink  was 
heavily  laden  with  silver,  set  to  work  with  divers 
to  get  out  what  they  could,  and  secured  fifteen 
thousand  pieces  of  eight,  besides  many  pieces  of 
silver  plate  such  as  hilts  of  swords  and  sacerdotal 
vessels.  In  this  occupation  they  spent  several  days, 
for  Morgan  hoped  that  as  the  fort  was  crammed 
with  refugees  from  the  fleet  they  might  become 
distressed  for  provisions. 

At  length  Morgan  made  use  of  another  stratagem 
to  deceive  the  Spaniards  with  the  impression  that 
he  intended  to  attack  the  castle  on  the  landward 
side,  and  so  make  them  drag  their  heavy  ordnance 
over  to  that  side  of  the  fort.  To  effect  this  he  or- 
dered his  men  to  row  to  the  shore  in  canoes,  as 
though  they  intended  to  land.  Then,  when  the 
canoes  were  hidden  from  the  castle  by  the  shrub- 
bery, he  caused  most  of  the  men  to  lie  down  in  the 
boats,  and  the  canoes  returned  to  the  ship  with  the 
appearance  of  only  two  or  three  men  rowing  them 
back.  This  false  landing  of  men  was  repeated  sev- 
eral times,  completely  deceiving  the  Spaniards,  who 
prepared  themselves  for  a  night  assault  of  the  castle. 

The  night  was  starlit  but  moonless,  and  the  pirate 
fleet,  profiting  by  the  obscurity,  spread  their  sails  as 
noiselessly  as  they  could  and  stood  out  for  sea. 
Morgan's  flag  ship  passed  unperceived,  but  when 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      195 

the  transport  containing  the  booty  was  opposite  the 
castle  it  was  noticed  by  the  sentinel  and  the  alarm 
given.  Instantly  the  ruse  was  understood  and  all 
hands  fell  to  work  dragging  the  guns  into  their 
former  position,  but  when  ready  for  action  the  en- 
tire pirate  fleet  was  beyond  their  range. 

When  quite  out  of  the  reach  of  the  castle  guns 
Morgan  allowed  the  Spanish  prisoners  to  return  to 
the  shore  in  canoes,  and,  in  mock  courtesy,  as  Esque- 
meling  quaintly  relates,  "  in  departing  ordered  seven 
guns  to  be  fired,  as  it  were  to  take  his  leave ;  but 
they  of  the  castle  answered  not  so  much  as  with  a 
musket  shot." 

Willie  now  demanded  that  Morgan  should  put 
him  off  with  Kiliaen  at  Aruba,  the  Dutch  island 
which  lay  nearest  to  his  course.  This  the  Captain 
was  unwilling  to  do,  so  on  the  next  night,  when 
they  judged  themselves  in  its  vicinity,  he  and 
Kiliaen  bribed  the  watch,  cut  loose  a  boat  and 
dropped  astern. 

Unfortunately  they  miscalculated  the  distance,  and 
rowed  for  two  days  unsuccessfully.  Kiliaen,  who 
had  suffered  beyond  his  endurance,  was  utterly  ex- 
hausted on  the  second  day.  He  lay  in  the  bottom 
of  the  boat  only  moaning  when  Willie  moistened 
his  lips,  and  finally,  when  their  Avater  was  spent, 
fell  into  piteous  delirium,  and  begged  to  be  thrown 


196  ANNEXE. 

overboard  and  allowed  to  die.  At  length  as  the 
boat  rose  on  one  of  the  great  green  billows,  Willie 
caught  sight  of  land,  and,  binding  Kiliaen  down, 
rowed  with  all  his  failing  strength  until  the  tide 
which  was  fortunately  running  in,  washed  the  boat 
on  shore.  Here  they  were  succored  by  some 
Dutch  fishermen,  and  after  a  time  Kiliaen  was  suf- 
ficiently restored  to  set  out  in  a  fishing  smack  for 
Curapao.  The  evening  before  he  left,  as  they  sat 
together  in  the  fisherman's  hut,  Willie  explained  to 
his  friend  the  passages  of  his  life  which  had  seemed  to 
him  dishonorable.  How  it  was  that  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  the  pirates,  and  why  he  had  acted  the 
part  of  Prince  William  at  Rembrandt's  house.  He 
learned  from  Kiliaen  for  the  first  time  how  useless 
this  sacrifice  had  been,  for  the  boyish  fancy  of  the 
Prince  to  woo  his  bride  incognito  had  not  been 
carried  out.  He  had  gone  to  England  quite  openly, 
and  there  had  been  no  need  for  Willie  to  represent 
him  in  Amsterdam. 

"If  Anneke  had  known  this,"  said  Kiliaen,  "she 
would  never  have  married  me.  Her  love  for  you 
died  only  when  she  thought  you  dishonorable." 

"  Then  you  must  never  explain  the  truth,"  Willie 
insisted  ;  "  it  would  do  no  good  now." 

Kiliaen  begged  Willie  to  accompany  him  to  Cu- 
ra£ao,  but  he  persistently  refused,  and  on  the  morn- 


THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST.      197 

ing  of  the  very  day  that  Kiliaen  left  a  French  ship 
touched  at  the  island  for  water  and  "Willie  wrung 
his  friend's  hand  and  sailed  in  it  to  Bordeaux,  in- 
tending from  that  port  to  make  his  way  to  England. 


CHAPTER  XL 


AT   RENSSELAERSWYCK. 

Well  might  the  traveller  start  to  see 
The  tall  dark  forms  that  take  their  way 
From  the  birch  canoe  on  the  river  shore 
And  the  forest  paths  to  a  chapel  door. 

But  hark !  the  Jesuit  knows  the  cry 

Which  tells  that  the  foe  of  his  flock  is  nigh. 

The  hurrying  feet  (for  the  chase  is  hot) 

And  the  short,  sharp  sound  of  the  rifle  shot, 

And  taunt  and  menace  answered  well 

By  the  Indians'  mocking  cry  and  yell, 

The  bark  of  dogs,  the  squaw's  mad  scream, 

And  the  dash  of  paddles  along  the  stream. —  Whittier. 

OON  after  these  events 
Anneke    and    Kiliaen 
sailed  for  their  barony 
of      Rensselaerswyck, 
making    but    a   short 
stop   at    New  Amster- 
dam, as  New  York  was 
called  while  it  belonged  to 
the    Dutch.      Established 
at  first  simply  as  a  trading 
post   of  the  Dutch  West 
India    Company,   settlers    in  its 
vicinity  had  only  recently  begun 
to  improve  their  estates  and  to  build  permanent 

198 


AT  BENSSELAEESWYCK.  199 

homes.  The  look  of  the  frontier  town  had  not 
passed  away.  Its  inhabitants  were  determined  and 
adventurous  men,  but  the  graces  of  life  were  lack- 
ing. It  was,  too,  a  very  dangerous  period,  for  the 
rash  governor,  Kieft,  had  exasperated  the  Indians 
by  inexcusable  attacks,  and  war  had  broken  out. 

Arendt  Van  Corlear,  the  trusty  and  sagacious 
agent  of  the  Van  Kensselaers,  met  the  ship  on  its 
arrival  at  New  Amsterdam  and  reassured  the  young 
couple.  The  Indians  near  Rensselaerswyck,  the  fa- 
mous Five  Nations  of  the  Iroquois,  though  the  most 
powerful  and  warlike  of  any  of  the  American  tribes, 
had  resisted  all  the  overtures  of  the  angry  Indians  liv- 
ing between  their  colony  and  New  Amsterdam,  and 
had  refused  to  go  on  the  warpath.  While  terrible 
massacres  took  place  at  Pavonia  and  later  at  Esopus, 
the  Dutch  settlers  at  Kensselaers wyck  were  not  only 
living  in  peace  and  safety,  but  the  Mohawks,  the 
nation  of  the  Iroquois  who  lived  nearest  their  set- 
tlement, constituted  themselves  their  standing  army, 
defending  the  barony  from  all  encroachment. 

Rensselaerswyck  needed  such  an  army  to  main- 
tain its  claims,  for  it  was  now  an  immense  inland 
domain  comprising  over  a  thousand  square  miles. 
For  four  and  twenty  miles  along  the  Hudson  and 
extending  westward  indefinitely,  the  splendid  barony 
asserted  its  feudal  rights. 


200  ANNEKE. 

There  was  one  spot  in  its  very  heart,  over  which 
it  had  no  jurisdiction.  The  West  India  Company 
had  established  Fort  Orange  on  the  present  site  of 
Albany,  before  Kiliaen  Yan  Kensselaer  had  taken 
up  his  land,  and  this  fort,  originally  a  protection  to 
the  settlers,  was  now  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  col- 
ony, and  a  cause  of  many  disputes  with  the  West 
India  Company  and  its  representatives  at  New  Am- 
sterdam. While  these  rivals  of  their  own  nation 
were  pressing  on  Rensselaerswyck  from  the  south, 
its  northern  boundaries  were  disputed  by  the  French 
and  its  eastern  limits  by  the  English.  The  French 
had  as  allies  the  Hurons,  a  tribe  of  Canadian  In- 
dians with  whom  the  Mohawks  (whom  we  may  re- 
gard as  the  Yan  Rensselaer  militia)  were  at  war, 
and  every  move  of  the  French  to  secure  Lake  Cham- 
plain  was  contested  by  them.  The  Plymouth,  Bos- 
ton and  Connecticut  colonies  had  united  and  were 
pushing  the  settlement  of  New  England  beyond  the 
Connecticut  Yalley.  They  would  soon  trench  upon 
West  Chester  County  and  the  eastern  confines  of 
Rensselaerswyck.  Fortunately  for  the  Dutch,  the 
Pequots  resisted  this  advance  of  the  English  into 
their  country,  and  the  Mohawks  again  regarded  the 
Pequots  and  the  English  alike  as  their  enemies  and 
would  have  no  encroachment  from  either.  On  the 
south  and  west  they  formed  a  guard  against  the 


A  T  RENSSELAERS  WYCK.  201 

other  savages,  who  were  now  giving  so  much 
trouble  to  Kieft  and  the  Dutch  settlers  of  the  lower 
Hudson.  Arendt  Van  Corlear  had  cemented  this 
friendship  by  honest  dealing.  He  was  greatly 
blamed  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  for 
furnishing  the  Indians  with  firearms,  but  though 
he  sold  them  in  the  neighborhood  of  six  hundred 
guns  and  quantities  of  gunpowder  and  bullets, 
this  ammunition  was  never  employed  against  the 
inhabitants  of  Kensselaerswyck. 

When  the  Goede  Vrouw  anchored  in  front  of  the 
manor-house  a  salute  was  fired  by  the  command  of 
the  Herr  Brandt  Yan  Slechtenhorst,  commander 
of  the  castle  Rensselaerstein,  on  the  island  of 
Beeren,  which  had  been  built  to  maintain  the  rights 
of  the  Yan  Kensselaers  to  the  Hudson  Kiver ;  and 
Jeremias  Yan  Eensselaer  gave  a  great  festival  to 
celebrate  the  arrival  of  his  daughter  and  son-in-law. 
Of  those  tenants  who  accepted  their  seigneur's  invi- 
tation on  this  occasion,  there  were  heads  of  families 
which  have  since  taken  distinguished  rank  in  the 
state,  the  Lispinards,  Yan  Burens,  Schermerhorns, 
Beekmans,  Cuylers,  Yan  Deusens,  Yerplancks,  Ten- 
brookes,  and  others. 

Among  these  guests  Anneke's  maternal  grand- 
father, Oloflf  Stevenson  Yan  Cortland,  Commissary 
under  Governor  Kieft,  and  afterward  President 


202  ANNEKE. 

of  the  Nine  Men,  Indian  Commissaries  and  Colonel 
of  the  Burghery,  was  conspicuous  for  his  stately 
manner.  There  was  Philip  Pieteise  Schuyler 
with  his  pretty  daughters,  one  of  whom  at  a 
later  date  would  marry  the  Reverend  Nicholas 
Yan  Rensselaer,  and  their  brother  who  was  to 
possess,  after  Van  Corlear,  the  most  remarkable 
power  over  the  Indians  of  any  white  man  of  that 
time ;  and  there  was  Doctor  Kierstede  the 
"  Chirugijn,"  and  Major  Ten-Broeck  from  the 
Fort,  with  honest  Dominie  Megapolensis,  of  whom 
more  hereafter. 

Robert  Livingston  came  later,  and  was  to  be  a 
staunch  friend,  and  there  was  hardly  a  name  of 
any  note  on  the  roll-call  of  the  colony  but  was  at 
some  time  linked  in  friendship  with  the  Yan  Rens- 
selaers.  Their  time  was  filled  by  peaceful  duties 
and  a  pleasant  interchange  of  social  courtesies, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  second  year  of  Anneke's 
residence  at  Rensselaerswyck  that  anything  oc- 
curred of  an  alarming  or  even  of  an  exciting  na- 
ture. 

While  politically  the  proprietors  of  Rensselaers- 
wyck distrusted  every  overture  of  the  French  to- 
ward the  Iroquois,  and  as  good  Protestants  they 
could  not  approve  of  the  conversion  of  the  Indians 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  still  every  instinct 


A  T  RENSSELAERS  WYCK.  203 

of  their  common  humanity  was  stirred  when  they 
heard  that  a  war  party  of  the  Iroquois  had  taken 
and  held  as  prisoners  four  Frenchmen,  one  of  whom 
was  a  Jesuit  missionary. 

Arendt  Van  Corlear  at  once  prepared  for  a  long 
journey  to  the  western  part  of  New  York  State  to 
attempt  to  ransom  these  unfortunates,  and  Kiliaen 
resolved  to  accompany  him.  They  loaded  a  pack 
horse  with  such  articles  as  they  thought  the 
Indians  would  fancy  most,  and  set  out  on  horse- 
back accompanied  by  only  two  servants.  They  fol- 
lowed the  great  Indian  trail,  which  was  so  straight 
and  well  chosen,  that  the  engineers  of  later  times 
could  find  no  better  route  for  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral Railroad.  After  marching  sixteen  miles  they 
came  to  a  ford  of  the  Mohawk  Eiver  where  Van 
Corlear  afterward  located  a  Dutch  hamlet  which 
received  the  name  of  Scharnhechstede,  or  Schen- 
ectady.  Following  the  windings  of  the  river  they 
came  to  the  three  principal  Mohawk  Castles  or 
forts  on  Schoharie  Creek  and  at  Canajoharie. 
The  Mohawks  were  the  most  powerful  of  the  five 
nations  of  the  Iroquois.  The  other  four,  the 
Oneidas,  the  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  far  distant 
Senecas  occupied  the  western  part  of  what  is  now 
New  York  State.  Their  strength  was  in  their  union, 
and  they  were  as  remarkable  for  their  intelligence 


204  ANNEKE. 

as  for  their  ferocity.  Each  of  these  tribes  had 
taken  some  animal  as  their  insignia,  and  the  author 
of  the  "  Romance  of  Frontenac "  has  told  of  the 
fear  felt  by  the  other  tribes  when  these  symbols 
were  seen  marked  upon  trees. 

"The  fierce  Adirondacks  had  fled  from  their  wrath, 
The  Hurons  been  swept  from  their  merciless  path 
By  the  far  Mississippi  the  Ilini  shrank 
When  the  trail  of  the  Tortoise  was  seen  on  the  bank, 
On  the  hills  of  New  England  the  Pequot  turned  pale 
When  the  howl  of  the  Wolf  swelled  at  night  on  the  gale, 
And  the  Cherokee  shook,  in  his  green  smiling  bowers, 
When  the  foot  of  the  Bear  stamped  his  carpet  of  flowers. ' ' 

The  Indians  welcomed  their  Dutch  guests  cour- 
teously and  treated  them  to  a  feast  of  succotash, 
broiled  wild  buck  and  dog-soup.  Yan  Corlear  made 
them  valuable  presents,  and  they  presented  him 
with  belts  of  wampum  assuring  him  of  their  un- 
alterable fidelity  to  the  Dutch  and  hatred  for 
"  Onontio,"  as  they  styled  the  French,  into  whose 
territory,  they  boasted,  they  had  lately  made  a 
successful  incursion  capturing  four  prisoners,  among 
whom  was  a  "  black  robe  "  (a  Jesuit). 

Yan  Corlear  asked  to  see  this  prisoner,  and  the 
devoted  missionary  Isaac  Jogues  was  brought  be- 
fore them.  Although  in  the  utmost  misery,  nearly 
naked  and  starved,  his  cassock  in  tatters,  his  body 
mutilated  by  repeated  torture,  and  in  constant  fear 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  205 

of  being  burned  alive,  there  was  a  dignity  and 
sweet  serenity  in  his  bearing  which  moved 
Kiliaen  profoundly,  and  he  begged  Yan  Corlear  to 
ransom  him  at  any  cost. 

The  Jesuit  told  his  story  simply.  He  had  been 
highly  educated  at  the  College  of  Clermont  in 
Paris,  and  had  gladly  embraced  the  vocation  of  a 
missionary  to  the  Hurons.  He  had  been  estab- 
lished with  Father  Raymbault  at  St.  Mary's,  where 
he  had  learned  several  Indian  dialects  and  taught 
his  beloved  converts  with  great  success.  Some- 
times he  made  long  explorations  with  them  by 
canoe  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Lake  Ontario  and 
even  beyond.  Kiliaen  knew  that  the  astute 
French  government  looked  for  territorial  conquest 
as  a  result  of  the  labors  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries, 
but  it  was  nevertheless  perfectly  evident  that  Fa- 
ther Jogues'  only  aim  had  been  the  conversion  of 
souls.  All  had  gone  well  at  his  mission,  in  spite  of 
numerous  hardships  to  be  expected  at  a  frontier 
post  in  such  a  rigorous  climate,  until  on  an  unlucky 
day  Father  Jogues  was  sent  down  the  river  to 
Quebec  for  supplies. 

He  was  returning  with  a  train  of  canoes  laden 
with  provisions,  clothing,  and  some  vestments  and 
sacred  utensils  for  the  chapel,  when  the  convoy  were 
attacked  and  captured  by  the  war  party  of  Mo- 


206  ANNEXE. 

hawks.  A  few  of  the  Huron  Indians,  who  were 
paddling,  escaped,  but  twenty-two  were  taken,  and 
among  them  were  three  Frenchmen  :  Rene  Goupil, 
William  Couture  and  a  boy  named  Henri.  Father 
Jogues  might  have  fled,  but  when  he  saw  that  Rene 
Goupil,  to  whom  he  was  deeply  attached,  was 
taken,  he  voluntarily  joined  him. 

They  had  all  endured  untold  cruelties.  Henri 
had  taken  to  the  woods,  and  had  either  starved  to 
death  or  had  managed  to  reach  Canada.  William 
Couture,  who  was  physically  strong  and  of  invinci- 
ble courage,  had  so  won  the  admiration  of  his  sav- 
age captors,  in  running  the  gauntlet  and  enduring 
torture  without  flinching,  that  he  had  been  adopted 
by  a  squaw,  whose  husband  had  been  killed  by  the 
Hurons,  and  who  had  the  right  to  claim  a  prisoner 
of  war.  From  that  time  his  condition  was  a  little 
better.  Though  treated  as  a  slave,  overworked  and 
beaten,  he  was  not  tortured,  had  food  of  some  sort, 
and  his  life  was  no  longer  in  danger.  Not  so 
Father  Jogues  and  young  Rene  Goupil.  The  latter 
was  delicate  in  health,  and  succumbed  at  length  to 
his  frightful  sufferings,  dying  a  martyr  with  Father 
Jogues'  blessing  to  console  his  last  moments.  Sev- 
eral of  the  Huron  Indians  taken  were  burned  at  the 
stake.  Father  Jogues  had  attended  them,  baptiz- 
ing through  the  flames  such  as  had  not  already 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  207 

received  the  rite,  serene  in  his  confidence  that 
this  sacrament  opened  for  them  the  gates  of 
heaven. 

The  noble  priest  was  himself  many  times  tor- 
tured ;  his  nails  were  pulled  out,  and  the  fingers  of 
his  left  hand  cut  off  with  clam  shells.  The  meek- 
ness with  which  he  bore  the  insults  of  his  torment- 
ors only  infuriated  them.  They  seared  him  with 
hot  irons,  their  children  stoned  him,  their  women 
spat  upon  him,  but  he  bore  all  with  gentle  resigna- 
tion. When  however  they  blasphemed  the  name  of 
Christ  he  rebuked  them  fearlessly.  He  had  one 
comfort,  a  little  volume,  "  The  Imitation  of  Christ," 
by  Thomas  a  Kempis,  which  he  carried  in  his 
breast,  and  which  they  made  no  attempt  to  take 
from  him.  He  showed  Kiliaen  one  page  on  en- 
during suffering  which  was  a  great  comfort  to 
him. 

"  The  whole  life  of  Christ  was  a  cross  and  a  mar- 
tyrdom, and  do  you  seek  after  rest  and  pleasure  ? 

"  If  indeed  there  had  been  anything  better  than 
suffering  Christ  would  have  shown  it  by  word  and 
example. 

"  For  our  merit  and  progress  in  life  are  not  reck- 
oned by  the  number  of  our  sweetnesses  and  consola- 
tions, but  by  patient  endurance  of  many  hardships 
and  trials." 


208  ANNEKE. 

He  had  cut  a  cross  in  the  bark  of  a  tree  in  the 
forest,  and  this  was  his  chapel  where  he  went  to 
pray  whenever  permitted. 

Kiliaen  was  so  touched  by  what  he  saw  and  heard 
that  the  tears  came  to  his  eyes.  He  offered  the 
Indians  all  the  money  and  ornaments  which  he  had 
brought  with  him,  and  made  promises  of  more.  He 
would  provide  guns  for  all  their  braves  and  they 
should  have  unlimited  quantities  of  beer  at  the 
Dutch  brewery.  Van  Corlear,  too,  exhausted  his 
eloquence.  All  in  vain,  they  would  do  anything 
else  to  show  their  devotion  to  Corlear,  but  they 
would  not  part  with  their  prisoner.  They  hoped  to 
receive  a  greater  ransom  from  the  French.  This 
last  intelligence  somewhat  reassured  Van  Corlear, 
and  he  made  the  Indians  promise  not  to  kill  Father 
Jogues ;  but  if  their  negotiations  with  the  French 
governor  were  unsatisfactory  to  bring  him  to  Rens- 
selaerswyck  where  an  enormous  ransom  would  be 
paid  for  him.  Very  reluctantly  they  left  him  with 
the  Indians. 

Before  they  returned  Kiliaen  stripped  himself  of 
half  of  his  own  clothing,  giving  Father  Jogues  his 
shoes  and  thick  stockings  and  his  fur  lined  cloak, 
with  a  blanket  to  wrap  about  him  at  night.  It  was 
useless  generosity,  for  the  Dutchmen's  backs  were 
hardly  turned  when  the  priest  was  robbed  of  their 


AT  EENSSELAERSWYCK.  209 

gifts.  Only  the  shoes  were  thrown  scornfully  back 
to  him  for  the  Indians  much  preferred  their  own 
moccasins. 

The  memory  of  the  frightful  things  which  he 
had  seen,  and  of  the  still  more  terrible  ones  of 
which  he  had  heard,  lived  in  Kiliaen's  memory 
after  his  return,  and  affected  him  with  profound 
melancholy.  Often  he  dreamed  that  he  saw  Father 
Jogues  being  burned  alive,  and  he  would  start  from 
his  sleep  with  a  cry  of  horror. 

"  What  right  have  we,"  he  would  say  to  Anneke, 
"to  live  in  comfort  and  security  in  our  manor- 
house  while  one  of  God's  saints  is  suffering  martyr- 
dom at  the  hands  of  those  fiends  ?  No  matter  that 
he  belongs  to  an  unfriendly  nation,  that  his  religion 
is  one  that  has  inflicted  cruelties.  Personally  he  is 
a  noble  man  and  a  sincere  Christian,  and  I  cannot 
rest  while  he  is  in  peril." 

Van  Corlear  encouraged  him  to  have  patience. 
"  The  time  for  the  Mohawks  to  come  to  Eensselaers- 
wyck  for  their  annual  spring  trade  is  approaching. 
You  will  see  that  they  will  bring  the  priest  with 
them." 

The  Indians  began  to  come  in  and  to  establish 
themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  Beverwyck,  while 
they  bartered  their  peltries  for  Dutch  commodities. 
At  about  the  same  time  a  vessel  touched  at  the 


210  ANNEKE. 

wharf  which  was  bound  for  Virginia  and  thence  to 
Bordeaux.  Kiliaen  invited  the  Captain  to  dine  with 
him,  and  so  interested  him  in  the  story  of  Father 
Jogues  that  he  consented  to  wait  for  a  week  in  the 
hope  that  the  captive  might  be  brought  in.  Van 
Corlear  interrogated  the  Indians  as  they  came  to  the 
warehouse  to  trade,  but  the  news  which  he  obtained 
was  most  disquieting. 

It  seemed  that  instead  of  receiving  any  ransom 
from  the  French,  the  government  had  attempted  to 
chastise  them.  The  French  soldiers  had  made  an 
incursion  into  their  territory,  had  burned  some  of 
their  dwellings  and  had  carried  away  prisoners. 
Unless  these  were  restored  before  the  season  of 
green  corn  there  would  be  a  great  powAvow  of  the 
Five  Nations  and  Father  Jogues  would  be  burned 
alive  as  a  reprisal.  It  was  of  no  use  for  "  Corlear  " 
to  offer  ransom,  gifts  were  sweet,  but  to  the  Indians 
revenge  was  sweeter.  They  wanted  the  flesh  of 
their  captive  at  their  great  feast,  and  no  other 
dainty,  not  even  hogsheads  of  beer  and  casks  of 
stronger  waters,  would  compensate  them  for  that 
meat. 

Kiliaen  was  horrified.  He  rashly  wished  to 
throw  every  Indian  into  prison  until  Father  Jogues 
was  produced.  As  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  was 
temporarily  absent  at  New  Amsterdam,  Kiliaen 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  211 

had  full  power,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  Van 
Corlear  restrained  him  from  this  action. 

One  day  a  squaw  appeared  at  the  manor-house 
with  maple  sugar  to  sell,  and  when  Anneke  pur- 
chased a  small  package  she  noticed  with  surprise 
that  it  Avas  wrapped  in  printed  paper.  Curious  to 
know  what  book  or  journal  this  Indian  woman 
could  have  obtained,  she  read  in  Latin — "The 
Royal  Way  of  the  Holy  Cross.  If  gladly  you  carry 
the  cross  it  will  bear  you  and  bring  you  to  the 
longed-for  goal  where  there  shall  be  no  more  pain." 

Instantly  she  comprehended  that  this  was  a  leaf 
out  of  Father  Jogues'  Imitation  of  Christ,  and  she 
asked  the  woman  where  she  obtained  it.  The 
woman  would  not  reply  and  hurried  away;  but 
Anneke  hastened  to  the  door  and  bade  a  servant, 
one  Jan  who  was  devoted  to  her  interests,  to  fol- 
low her  and  ascertain  whether  Father  Jogues  was 
with  the  party. 

Jan  returned  that  night  with  the  information 
that  he  had  seen  Father  Jogues.  He  had  followed 
the  squaw  to  a  long  barn  where  her  family  had  ob- 
tained permission  to  sleep  on  the  hay,  while  they 
were  in  the  neighborhood.  Jan  had  pretended  to 
be  one  of  the  farmer's  hands,  and  had  gone  into 
the  barn  and  busied  himself  with  giving  the  cattle 
fodder.  Here  he  had  found  Father  Jogues,  and 


212  ANN  EKE. 

had  told  him  how  anxious  his  friends  were  for  his 
safety  and  that  they  urged  him.  to  run  away.  He 
had  not  seemed  willing  to  do  this  as  he  was  not 
sure  what  the  result  of  such  action  on  his  part 
would  be,  but  he  had  promised  to  pray  over  it,  and 
if  the  barn  door  was  left  open  that  night  while  the 
Indians  slept,  he  would  take  it  as  a  sign  that  God 
wished  him  to  take  advantage  of  this  opportunity 
for  escape. 

Dominie  Megapolensis,  who  was  present  when 
Jan  told  his  story,  greatly  admired  this  conscien- 
tiousness on  the  part  of  Father  Jogues,  and  offered 
to  go  at  once  to  the  captain  of  the  ship  and  inform 
him  that  his  passenger  would  probably  come  on 
board  that  night,  for  without  doubt  Providence 
would  extend  the  sign  of  its  approval  to  so  good  a 
man. 

Kiliaen  and  Anneke  exchanged  significant  looks, 
and  when  the  Dominie  had  departed  Kiliaen  said 
meaningly,  "We  will  help  Providence  a  little, 
Anneke.  Jan,  do  you  go  back  to  the  farmhouse, 
and  tell  Father  Jogues  that  a  boat  will  be  hidden 
under  the  bank  just  opposite  the  ship  whereby  he 
can  row  himself  out.  You  say  that  Father  Jogues 
sleeps  in  the  middle  of  the  barn,  with  the  Indians 
between  him  and  the  great  door,  toward  the  fields, 
which  they  bolt  before  going  to  sleep.  There  is  no 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  213 

hope  of  escape  therefore  in  that  direction.  Tell 
him  to  try  the  small  door  at  the  other  end  of  the 
barn  which  opens  into  the  woodhouse,  and  do  you 
lurk  about  the  place  until  you  see  the  farmer  make 
that  fast  for  the  night,  and  then  unbolt  it." 

Kiliaen  was  not  satisfied  with  having  sent  Jan  to 
execute  his  commands.  He  went  after  nightfall  to 
the  river  bank,  and  made  sure  that  the  boat  was  in 
place,  and  stood  guard  beside  it  a  long  time,  but 
Father  Jogues  did  not  appear.  Consumed  with 
anxiety  he  walked  out  to  the  farmer's  house,  and 
hearing  a  great  barking  of  dogs  in  the  woodhouse 
at  once  divined  the  truth,  that  the  farmer  had  shut 
these  intelligent  brutes  in  this  outbuilding,  making 
them  understand  that  they  were  not  to  allow  his 
Indian  guests  to  approach  too  near.  Kiliaen  saw 
that  there  was  no  other  way  than  to  take  the 
farmer  into  his  confidence.  He  accordingly  knocked 
at  his  front  door,  roused  him,  explained  the  situa- 
tion and  offered  him  a  tempting  reward  to  call  his 
dogs  into  his  living-room.  The  farmer  consented, 
and  after  waiting  long  enough  for  the  Indians  to 
fall  asleep  again,  in  case  they  might  have  been  dis- 
turbed by  the  barking,  Kiliaen  slipped  the  farmer's 
blue  smock  which  hung  in  the  woodhouse  over  his 
clothing,  and  with  a  pitchfork  in  his  hand  cau- 
tiously entered  the  barn.  Father  Jogues,  who  had 


214  ANNEKE. 

attempted  to  escape  and  had  been  bitten  and  driven 
back  by  the  dogs,  was  kneeling  in  an  empty  stall 
praying  for  resignation  to  the  will  of  God.  The 
morning  was  just  dawning,  and  they  could  see  each 
other  vaguely.  Kiliaen  beckoned  energetically, 
and  Father  Jogues  arose  from  his  knees.  "  It  is 
the  will  of  God  that  you  should  follow  me,"  said 
Kiliaen,  and  the  priest  obeyed. 

Kiliaen  led  him  to  the  boat,  and  waited  until  he 
saw  him  on  board  the  ship  before  he  returned  to 
his  home. 

The  next  day  the  manor-house  was  besieged  by  a 
deputation  of  angry  savages,  who  insisted  that  their 
Captain  should  be  restored  to  them. 

"  I  have  him  not,"  Kiliaen  replied.  "  .You  may 
search  the  house,"  and  they  did  so  without  success. 

"  Then  he  must  be  on  the  ship,"  they  very  natur- 
ally concluded. 

But  the  Captain  had  hidden  the  fugitive  in  the 
hold,  and  although  a  few  of  the  Indians  were  al- 
lowed to  come  on  board  they  did  not  discover  the 
Jesuit.  All  day  long  they  rushed  to  and  fro,  work- 
ing themselves  up  to  a  state  of  frenzy,  and  at  night 
a  council  was  held  outside  the  town,  at  which  their 
chiefs  made  speeches,  a  medicine  man  wrought  his 
weird  spells  and  a  dance  was  indulged  in  by  the 
young  braves.  To  conciliate  them  Dominie  Mega- 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  215 

polensis  attempted  to  address  the  council ;  but  the 
medicine  man  interrupted  his  broken  words  with  a 
wild  shriek.  "  It  is  this  ghost  doctor,"  he  said, 
"  who  has  spirited  our  prisoner  away.  He  knows 
where  he  is  now,  and  can  produce  him." 

The  honest  Dominie  stammered  and  turned 
pale. 

"See,  he  cannot  deny  it,"  the  medicine  man 
yelled.  "Go  back  to  Coiiear,  and  tell  him  that 
unless  he  delivers  our  prisoner  to  us  to-morrow  we 
will  burn  his  new  wigwam  of  little  yellow  stones 
(light  bricks).  "We  will  burn  his  entire  town,  and 
plunder  his  warehouses.  We  will  kill  him  and  all 
his  Dutch  braves  because  he  has  deceived  us.  But 
we  will  not  kill  you,  O  ghost  doctor,  not  now,  we 
will  take  you  with  us  to  the  long  house  of  the 
Iroquois  and  burn  you  at  our  feast.  One  black 
robe  is  as  good  as  another  and  will  make  as  fine  a 
roast.  But  you  shall  not  go  alone.  Tell  the  young 
Corlear  that  we  will  take  his  pretty  squaw  with  us 
to  be  the  wife  of  our  principal  chief,  and  we  will 
never  again  trust  the  friendship  of  a  white  man." 

Thrust  from  the  council  the  Dominie  fled  wild 
with  terror  to  the  river  and  rowed  to  the  ship, 
which  was  at  that  moment  weighing  anchor.  He 
sought  Father  Jogues  and  told  him  what  he  had 
heard.  The  self-sacrificing  priest  crossed  himself 


216  ANN  EKE. 

and  replied,  "  It  is  expedient  that  one  man  should 
die  and  not  that  the  whole  nation  perish." 

So  saying  he  nobly  bade  farewell  to  the  Captain 
and  returned  with  the  Dominie  to  the  manor- 
house. 

The  family  were  asleep,  but  the  Dominie  entered 
by  a  window  and  secreted  Father  Jogues  in  the 
cellar. 

"Tell  me  when  to  give  myself  up,"  said  the 
priest,  and  Megapolensis  went  away  very  sorrow- 
ful. He  threw  himself  on  a  settle  by  the  dining- 
room  fireplace,  and  when  Anneke  came  down  in 
the  morning  she  found  him  there  snoring  heavily. 
"  Poor  man,"  she  thought,  "  he  has  labored  much 
for  us  of  late,  I  will  not  awaken  him,"  and  she 
stepped  silently  about  the  room  setting  the  table 
for  breakfast  with  the  Delft  china  which  she  prized 
so  highly  that  she  always  cared  for  it  herself. 
Suddenly  hurried  howls  and  cries  rang  out  around 
the  house,  and  the  Dominie  started  from  the  settle 
exclaiming,  "  The  savages.  Have  they  come  al- 
ready ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Anneke  replied,  "  they  have  come.  But 
do  not  be  troubled,  the  ship  has  sailed,  and  has 
taken  our  friend  beyond  their  reach.  Kiliaen  and 
I  saw  that  it  had  gone  when  the  sun  rose  this 
morning,  and  we  thanked  God  together." 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  217 

"  But,  they  will  wreak  a  horrible  revenge  upon 
you,"  replied  the  dazed  Dominie. 

"  Oh  no,  they  will  not  dare  to  do  so,"  Anneke 
replied  calmly.  "  Kiliaen  is  addressing  them  now 
from  the  roof  of  the  porch.  As  soon  as  they  realize 
that  the  priest  has  really  escaped  they  will  calm 
down.  Kiliaen  will  let  them  have  the  provi- 
sions in  the  cellar  which  the  chief  asked  him  for 
when  he  searched  the  house  yesterday,  and  Arendt 
Van  Corlear  will  talk  with  them." 

"  The  cellar !  "  cried  the  Dominie,  "  but  the  Jesuit 
is  there  !  He  refused  to  go  when  he  knew  that  we 
were  in  danger,  and  came  back  last  night  to  give 
himself  up." 

"Horrible!  and  Kiliaen  is  protesting  at  this 
moment  that  he  has  never  been  in  this  house,  but 
that  the  Captain  of  the  ship  has  carried  him  off. 
In  another  moment  he  is  likely  to  invite  them  to 
the  cellar.  Oh !  What  have  you  done  ?  " 

But  Anneke  did  not  stand  wringing  her  hands  in 
despair.  She  darted  down  the  cellar  stairs,  bidding 
the  Dominie  lock  the  door  behind  her,  and  he  had 
hardly  time  to  do  so  and  to  place  the  key  in  his 
pocket  before  the  room  was  full  of  Indians. 

"  Ah  !  You  are  here !  "  exclaimed  the  medicine 
man.  "  We  will  take  you.  One  black  robe  is  as 
good  as  another." 


218  ANN  EKE. 

"  No,"  said  Kiliaen,  who  entered  with  the  chief. 
"  You  shall  have  full  indemnity  for  your  prisoner, 
but  you  shall  have  no  captives.  We  are  your 
friends.  We  have  never  deceived  you.  I  assure  you 
on  the  honor  of  a  white  man  that  the  Frenchmen 
are  our  enemies  as  well  as  yours,  and  that  this  priest 
has  never  been  in  my  house.  Search  if  you  will,  but 
some  of  you  come  with  me  to  the  cellar  and  help 
yourselves  to  the  good  provisions  stored  there." 

He  attempted  to  open  the  door  leading  to  the 
cellar  stairs,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that  it  was 
fastened.  The  medicine  man  was  watching  Mega- 
polensis,  and  he  dared  make  no  sign.  "  There  is 
plenty  of  beer  at  the  brewery,"  he  stammered. 
"  That  is  better  for  them  than  Anneke's  good  pre- 
serves." 

But  Kiliaen  paid  no  attention  to  the  Dominie, 
and  taking  a  tomahawk  from  the  hand  of  an  Indian 
he  pried  open  the  door  and  himself  led  the  way. 
The  frightened  minister  listened,  but  there  were  no 
ominous  sounds,  and  presently  the  Indians  returned 
bearing  hams  and  sausages,  a  keg  of  soused  pigs — 
feet,  cheeses  and  firkins  of  butter,  with  pots  of  mar- 
malade, and  jam  made  from  wild  fruit  by  Anneke. 
Kiliaen  came  last  of  all  a  relieved  expression  on 
his  face. 

"  The  worst  is  past,"  he  said  to  the  Dominie.     "  I 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  219 

am  glad  that  Anneke  kept  herself  hidden,  for  she 
would  have  been  frightened." 

But  what  had  become  of  Anneke  and  Father 
Jogues  ?  This  was  Kiliaen's  question  whem  Dom- 
inie Megapolensis  told  him  what  had  happened. 
Together  they  searched  the  cellar  again  but  could 
discover  no  other  door  or  stairway  than  that  by 
which  they  had  just  entered.  Suddenly  a  set  of 
shelves,  which  Kiliaen  had  recently  stripped  of  pre- 
serve pots,  swung  forward  showing  a  sort  of  tunnel 
and  Anneke  crouching  within  it. 

"  Have  they  gone  ?  "  she  asked,  and  a  smile  quiv- 
ered on  her  lips,  though  her  face  was  pale.  "  I  was 
here  all  the  time,  and  I  could  hardly  contain  myself, 
sir,  when  you  gave  away  all  the  candied  fruits  I 
brought  from  Curacao.  I  did  not  mind  the  rasp- 
berry-jam, for  the  squaws  will  bring  me  more  berries 
this  summer ;  but  the  last  jar  of  orange  marmalade  ! 
O  Kiliaen,  how  could  you  ?  " 

"  Perish  the  marmalade !  Where  is  Father 
Jogues,  and  what  cavern  is  that  in  which  you  are 
standing  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  a  cavern,  but  an  underground  passage 
to  the  warehouse.  Father  had  it  constructed  for 
just  such  an  emergency  as  this.  I  forgot  to  show 
it  to  you.  He  feared  that  we  might  be  surprised 
by  savages  at  some  time  when  he  was  at  the  ware- 


220  .  ANNEKE. 

house,  and  in  this  way  he  could  bring  reinforce- 
ments to  the  manor  or  we  could  escape  to  him.  I 
have  taken  Father  Jogues  to  Arendt  Van  Corlear, 
and  he  has  concealed  him  in  the  little  room  parti- 
tioned off  from  the  loft  where  he  stores  the  gun- 
powder. He  is  safe  for  the  present.  The  next 
thing  to  do  is  to  pacify  the  Indians." 

It  was  more  easily  said  than  done.  For  days 
the  disappointed  barbarians  ranged  through  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  making  themselves  disagreeably  famil- 
iar. Several  times  Kiliaen  paid  them  for  their 
captive,  for  each  demand  was  followed  by  another, 
and  he  dared  not  anger  them.  Once  they  presented 
themselves  at  the  warehouse,  asking  for  ammunition, 
and  following  him  to  the  loft  when  he  went  after 
the  powder.  But  he  firmly  insisted  that  they  should 
not  enter  the  room  in  which  it  was  kept,  and  they 
submitted  without  suspecting  that  Father  Jogues 
saw  them  plainly  through  the  cracks  in  the  ill- 
matched  boards. 

It  is  doubtful  how  long  these  uninvited  guests 
might  have  remained  at  Rensselaerswyck  if  one 
fine  day  a  sloop  belonging  to  the  West  India  Com- 
pany had  not  arrived  and  landed  a  company  of 
soldiers.  The  captain  of  the  ship  which  had  sailed 
away  without  Father  Jogues  had  at  New  Amster- 
dam reported  to  Jeremias  Yan  Rensselaer  that 


AT  RENSSELAERSWYCK.  221 

there  was  an  uprising  of  the  Mohawks,  and  he  had 
returned  bringing  these  troops  to  their  succor. 
Kiliaen  begged  them  to  make  no  attack  until  he  had 
asked  the  Indians  to  depart  peaceably.  They  did 
so,  professing  their  friendship  and  impressed  with 
much  respect  for  Corlear's  power.  A  man  who 
could  summon  a  great  canoe  filled  with  warriors 
whenever  he  needed  it  was  not  to  be  trifled  with. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  remained  to  strengthen  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Orange,  and  when  the  others  re- 
turned to  Xew  Amsterdam  Father  Jogues  went 
with  them,  and  later  sailed  for  France  by  way  of 
England.  He  left  his  blessing  for  all  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Rensselaerswyck  not  even  excepting  Dom- 
inie Megapolensis,  who  would  often  boast,  "  He  was 
a  very  learned  man.  He  complimented  my  Latin, 
and  especially  my  facility  in  the  use  of  the  sub- 
junctive." 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THAT   PEARL   OF   PEAELS   A   NOBLE   LIFE. 

I  do  not  think  a  braver  gentleman 
More  active  valiant,  or  more  valiant  young, 
More  genorous  or  more  bold  is  now  alive, 
To  grace  this  latter  age  with  noble  deeds. 

— Shakespeare. 

BEDTIME  and  har- 
vest had  quietly  come 
and  gone  at  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  filling 
the  years  with  their 
round  of  healthful, 
active  duties.  There 
were  wild  doings  on 
the  lower  Hudson, 
and  by  the  Pequots 
in  New  England,  but 
still  the  Mohawks 
were  true  to  Corlear  and  the  Yan  Rensselaers. 

Governor  Kieft  by  his  wicked  folly  in  the  mas- 
sacre of  the  Indians  at  Pavonia  had  lighted  a  war 
which  had  blazed  for  five  years.  All  of  the  tribes 

of  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut  had  joined  in  it, 

222 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.      223 

hundreds  of  Dutchmen  had  been  killed  or  carried 
captive,  settlements  had  been  destroyed,  homes 
burned  and  the  entire  country  about  New  Amster- 
dam desolated.  At  last  the  colony  could  bear  it  no 
longer  and  it  sent  back  to  the  home  government  a 
memorial  ending  in  the  following  appeal : 

"  Our  fields  lie  waste.  Our  dwellings  are  burned. 
We  have  no  means  to  provide  necessaries  for  our 
wives  or  children.  We  sit  here  amidst  thousands 
of  savages  from  whom  we  can  find  neither  peace 
nor  mercy. 

"All  right  thinking  men  here  know  that  these 
Indians  have  lived  as  lambs  among  us  until  a  few 
years  ago,  injuring  no  man,  and  when  no  supplies 
were  sent  for  several  months,  furnishing  provisions 
to  the  company's  servants  until  they  received  sup- 
plies. These  hath  the  director,  by  several  uncalled- 
for  proceedings  from  time  to  time  so  estranged 
from  us,  and  so  embittered  that  we  do  not  believe 
that  anything  will  bring  peace  back  unless  the  Lord 
propitiate  their  people. 

"  Honored  Lords,  we  shall  end  here,  praying  that 
God  will  move  your  lordships'  minds,  so  that  a 
Governor  may  be  speedily  sent  to  us  with  a  beloved 
peace,  or  that  we  may  be  permitted  to  return  with 
our  wives  and  children  to  our  dear  fatherland. 
For  it  is  impossible  ever  to  settle  this  country  until 


224  ANNEKE. 

a  different  system  be  introduced  and  a  new  Gover- 
nor sent  out." 

In  answer  to  this  call  it  seemed  to  the  West  India 
Company  as  though  providence  had  sent  the  very 
man  to  them.  Director  Peter  Stuyvesant,  recov- 
ered from  his  wound,  stood  sturdily  before  them, 
his  famous  wooden  leg  inlaid  with  silver,  ready  to 
do  vigorous  service  for  many  a  year  to  come.  His 
conduct  of  affairs  in  the  West  Indies  was  approved, 
and  he  was  forthwith  appointed  Governor  of  New 
Netherland,  and  Kieft  was  recalled. 

Governor  Stuyvesant  sailed  on  Christmas  day, 

1646.  He   stopped   on    the  way  at  Curayao  and 
arrived  in  New  Amsterdam  on  the  llth  of  May, 

1647.  One  of  his  titles  was  "  Redresser  General  of 
Abuses,"  and  this  office  was  by  no  means  a  sinecure. 
No  governor  had  so  difficult  a  piece  of  work  cut 
out  for  him,  and  none,  taking  all  things  into  con- 
sideration, accomplished  his  work  better.     Irving 
calls  him,  "a  valiant,  weather-beaten,  mettlesome, 
obstinate,     leathern-sided,    lion-hearted     old    gov- 
ernor;"  and   Fiske    traces   his   name   humorously 
from  Stm/ven,  to  stir  up,  and  sand,  interpreting  the 
compound  as,  "  he  who  stirs  up  a  dust." 

It  is  true  that  he  made  mistakes,  that  he  was 
arbitrary,  testy,  impulsive  and  obstinate ;  but  he 
was  also  sincerely  patriotic,  brave,  unselfish  and  un- 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.      225 

tiring  in  his  activity.  He  managed  matters  with  a 
high  hand,  refusing  to  take  counsel  or  criticism  from 
any  of  his  fellow-townsmen,  and  announcing  at  the 
outset — "  If  any  one  during  my  administration  shall 
appeal,  I  will  make  him  a  foot  shorter  and  send  the 
pieces  to  Holland  and  let  him  appeal  in  that  way." 

The  Van  Rensselaers  had  been  criticised  for  sell- 
ing firearms  to  the  Mohawks,  but  it  is  doubtful 
whether  any  Indian  outbreak  could  be  traced  to 
this  practice ;  and  Stuy  vesant  put  his  finger  on  the 
true  source  of  all  the  mischief  when  he  forbade 
under  penalty  of  a  fine  of  one  hundred  guilders  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  to  the  savages,  and 
further  decreed  that  the  seller  should  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  any  injury  which  the  savage  might 
inflict  while  under  the  influence  of  strong  drink. 

A  temporary  peace  was  concluded  with  the  In- 
dians, and  the  Governor  had  time  to  make  an 
expedition  against  the  Swedes  in  Delaware  and 
to  take  up  the  question  of  the  boundary  between 
the  Dutch  and  the  English  settlements  on  the 
East.  Van  T  wilier  had  built  and  garrisoned 
Fort  Good  Hope  at  Hartford,  but  Lion  Gardiner 
on  the  petition  of  Winthrop  had  built  a  stronger 
fort  at  Saybrook,  and  English  settlers  laid  out  the 
town  of  Hartford  under  the  very  guns  of  the  Dutch 
blockhouse  and  poured  into  Connecticut.  Stuy- 


226  ANNEKE. 

vesant  wrote  to  Winthrop  protesting,  and  was  in- 
vited to  meet  him  at  Hartford  for  the  settlement  of 
the  boundary  question.  As  the  Dutch  Governor 
spoke  no  English  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  take 
an  interpreter  with  him,  and  it  chanced  that  Love 
Brewster  was  recommended  by  Jeremias  Van 
Rensselaer  for  this  position. 

Love  brought  the  letter  requesting  his  services  to 
the  Van  Kensselaer  manor-house,  begging  that  he 
might  be  excused  as  he  might  meet  with  some  of 
his  family. 

"  But  Mr.  Brewster,"  cried  Anneke,  "  I  have  such 
good  news  for  you.  Forgive  me  that  I  had  for- 
gotten to  tell  you  before,"  and  she  told  him  how 
she  had  learned  from  Willie  Nicoll  that  Wrestling 
Brewster  had  not  perished  in  the  Virginia  massacre 
but  had  returned  safely  to  Plymouth  and  had  mar- 
ried Patience  Dudley. 

"  Thank  God,"  exclaimed  Love  Brewster  fer- 
vently, "  I  will  go  not  only  with  the  Governor  to 
Hartford,  but,  if  he  will  permit  me,  still  further  and 
visit  my  kindred." 

Governor  Stuyvesant  embarked  from  New  Am- 
sterdam with  an  imposing  suite,  and  sailing  through 
the  sound  arrived  at  Hartford  after  four  days.  The 
negotiations  were  complicated,  but  were  conducted 
in  a  friendly  manner  and  were  referred  to  four  ar- 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEAELS.      227 

bitrators,  two  on  the  part  of  New  England  and  two 
for  New  Netherland.  It  was  afterward  objected 
by  the  Dutch  that  Stuy  vesant  chose  Englishmen  to 
represent  them,  and  that  his  secretary  was  an  Eng- 
lishman. By  this  treaty  of  1650  Long  Island  was 
divided  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  on  the  mainland  the  line 
was  to  begin  at  Greenwich  and  run  north  "so  that 
said  line  came  not  within  ten  miles  of  the  Hudson 
river."  This  arbitration  was  accepted,  but  it  satis- 
fied neither  the  Dutch,  who  wished  the  Connecticut 
river  to  be  the  boundary,  nor  the  English,  who  cov- 
eted the  entire  country  occupied  by  the  Hollanders. 
Love  Brewster,  who  had  been  allowed  a  brief 
leave  of  absence,  and  had  made  a  most  enjoyable 
visit  with  his  relatives,  returned  to  New  Amster- 
dam, where  he  remained  in  the  employ  of  the  Dutch 
governor.  Stuyvesant  next  turned  his  attention  to 
Kensselaerswyck,  where,  in  spite  of  his  friendship 
for  the  family,  he  felt  that  the  lords  of  the  manor 
were  holding  their  heads  far  too  high.  Since  the 
building  of  the  castle  of  Kensselaerstein  on  Bear 
Island  its  "  wacht  meester  "  had  had  orders  to  collect 
a  toll  of  five  guilders  from  every  vessel  passing  up 
or  down  the  river,  and  to  demand  that  colors  be 
dipped  as  a  salute  to  the  patroon.  But  one  day 
Govert  Loockermans  attempted  to  pass  in  his  yacht 
Good  Hope,  without  tendering  this  homage. 


228  ANNEXE. 

"  Strike  your  colors !  "  shouted  the  commander  of 
the  castle. 

"  For  whom  shall  I  strike  ?  "  scoffed  Loockermans. 

"  For  my  lord  Kiliaen,  and  the  right  of  Rensse- 
laerstein,"  cried  the  "  wacht  meester." 

"I  strike  for  nobody,"  replied  Loockermans, 
"  but  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  their  High  Mighti- 
nesses, the  States  General." 

Three  shots  were  then  fired  from  the  ramparts, 
one  of  which  tore  a  rent  in  the  flag  of  the  ship. 

Such  arrogant  behavior  as  this  could  not  pass  un- 
noticed and  Stuyvesant  proceeded  to  Rensselaers- 
wyck  with  a  small  body  of  soldiers.  Unfortunately 
he  did  not  visit  at  the  manor  in  a  friendly  way  but 
went  directly  to  Fort  Orange,  which  belonged  to 
the  West  India  Company,  and  summoned  Van 
Slechtenhorst,  the  commissary  of  the  Van  Rensse- 
laers,  to  come  to  him.  Now  the  commissary  was 
a  man  endowed  with  a  little  brief  authority  of  which 
he  was  far  more  jealous  than  the  patroon  himself, 
and  when  Stuyvesant  handed  him  a  list  of  his  per- 
emptory orders  he  replied  insubordinately  that  he 
should  obey  only  those  which  pleased  him,  and 
asked  with  a  sneer  if  the  Governor  supposed  him- 
self to  be  the  patroon  of  Rensselaerswyck.  One  of 
the  orders  was  that  no  houses  were  to  be  built 
within  musket  range  of  the  fort,  and  scarcely  had 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.      229 

Stuyvesant  gone  when  Van  Slechtenhorst,  to  show 
his  contempt  of  his  authority,  began  putting  up 
some  cabins  close  to  the  fort.  Hearing  of  this, 
Stuyvesant  sent  up  a  squad  of  soldiers  with  orders 
to  the  commandant  of  Fort  Orange  to  arrest  Van 
Slechtenhorst  and  to  pull  down  the  houses. 

It  happened  that  a  party  of  Mohawks  were  visit- 
ing Kensselaerswyck  when  Stuyvesant  had  his  first 
altercation  with  the  commissary.  They  could  not 
understand  what  it  was  all  about,  but  when  they 
saw  the  angry  face  of  the  Governor  purple  with 
rage,  they  hurried  to  Kiliaen  after  Stuy vesant's  de- 
parture with  the  information  that  the  great  chief, 
Wooden  Leg,  was  very  drunk.  "Impossible," 
Kiliaen  replied,  "  the  Governor  never  drinks  to 
excess." 

"I  do  not  mean,"  replied  their  chief,  Saheda, 
"  that  Wooden  Leg  is  drunk  with  rum.  He  was 
born  drunk." 

When  these  same  Indians  saw  the  soldiers  tearing 
down  the  houses  and  they  were  informed  that  it 
was  done  by  the  command  of  Wooden  Leg,  they 
were  greatly  excited  and  asked  permission  to  go 
down  the  river  and  burn  New  Amsterdam  and  kill 
Chief  Wooden  Leg,  and  it  needed  all  of  Yan  Cor- 
lear's  utmost  influence  to  keep  them  from  executing 
their  threat. 


230  ANNEKE. 

The  Yan  Kensselaers  deeply  regretted  the  mis- 
understanding which  had  arisen,  and  later  they 
were  able  to  convince  their  hasty  friend  of  their 
friendship. 

Shortly  after  this  occurrence,  too,  the  Governor 
sent  them  as  a  peace-offering  a  strange  present,  "  a 
dividance  of  negro  slaves,"  which  had  been  brought 
to  New  Amsterdam  by  a  skipper  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor shrewdly  suspected  to  be  little  better  than  a 
pirate,  as  he  confessed  to  having  taken  them  by 
force  from  a  Spanish  slaver,  Juan  Gaillardo. 

The  negroes,  who  were  named  Mookinga,  Figa, 
La  Caubotera,  Paulo  and  Diego,  had  their  own 
strange  story  to  tell. 

They  were  free  blacks  living  in  a  village  in 
Jamaica,  but  had  been  captured  by  the  Spaniards, 
who  in  turn  had  been  taken  by  the  pirate  Morgan, 
who  recognized  some  of  them  as  having  made  a 
cruise  under  his  command  against  the  island  of 
Margarita. 

Morgan  had  treated  them  kindly,  and,  as  their 
city  had  been  destroyed,  asked  what  they  wished 
him  to  do  with  them.  Mookinga  begged  that  he 
would  take  them  to  an  English  gentleman  named 
Nicoll,  whom  he  well  knew  had  once  been  kind  to 
them.  The  Captain  had  replied  that  he  knew 
not  where  to  find  him,  but  would  sell  them  to 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  231 

certain  Dutch,  friends  of  his,  and  he  had  kept  his 
word. 

From  this  story  and  other  relations  of  Mookinga, 
Anneke  and  Kiliaen  received  a  better  idea  of  the 
character  of  Willie's  piratical  adventures  than  they 
had  previously  entertained.  With  all  their  kindness 
shown  to  the  negroes,  they  shivered  and  pined  for 
the  tropics  and  were  at  last  sent  to  Cura£ao.1  About 
this  time  the  Van  Kensselaers  received  a  more 
agreeable  visit  from  an  old  friend,  Father  Isaac 
Jogues. 

The  devoted  missionary,  after  exciting  adventures 
in  Ireland  and  England,  had  landed  at  Brest,  and 
from  this  port  had  made  his  way  to  Rennes,  where 
there  was  a  society  of  Jesuits.  He  announced  him- 
self simply  as  a  returning  missionary,  when  the  rec- 
tor asked  most  anxiously  if  he  could  give  them  any 
news  of  their  beloved  brother,  Father  Jogues,  whom 
they  feared  had  suffered  martyrdom. 

"  He  is  well,"  the  priest  replied,  "  and  I  am  he." 
Upon  this  the  entire  community  fell  upon  their 
knees  and  asked  his  blessing.  There  was  rejoicing 
all  through  France  over  his  return.  The  Queen 
Regent,  Anne  of  Austria,  sent  for  him  to  come  to 
court,  and  kneeling  before  him  with  the  court  ladies 

1  This  affair  occasioned  considerable  diplomatic  correspondence. 
See  "Juan  Gaillardo's  complaint,"  Holland  Documents,  vol.  ii. 


232  ANNEKE. 

had  kissed  his  mutilated  hands.  The  modest  priest 
did  not  speak  of  this,  or  of  the  many  other  honors 
that  were  showered  upon  him  at  court,  but  he  told 
with  tears  in  his  eyes  of  one  special  grace  which  had 
been  extended  him  by  the  Pope.  It  is  one  of  the 
canons  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  that  only  a 
priest  physically  perfect  can  celebrate  the  Eucharist, 
and  it  was  Father  Jogues'  greatest  grief  that  he  had 
been  deprived  of  this  privilege  by  the  loss  of  his 
fingers.  Pope  Urban  VIII.  decided  that  a  martyr 
who,  like  Christ,  had  been  wounded  in  his  hands, 
ought  with  more  reason  to  be  allowed  to  celebrate 
the  Holy  Sacrifice,  and  made  this  special  dispensa- 
tion in  his  behalf. 

His  French  friends  had  collected  the  ransom  of 
three  hundred  livres  which  Kiliaen  had  paid  the 
Mohawks,  and  a  part  of  his  errand  was  to  repay 
this  debt;  but  this  his  hosts  would  not  suffer  him 
to  do.  He  told  of  a  conversation  which  he  had 
had  with  the  young  King  Louis  XIV.,  and  with 
the  great  Cardinal  Mazarin,  and  of  their  interest  in 
the  Canadian  possessions,  and  in  the  conversion  of 
the  savages.  He  had  evidently  done  everything  in 
his  power  to  persuade  them  to  preserve  peace  with 
their  English  and  Dutch  neighbors,  and  not  to  en- 
croach upon  their  territory. 

"  There  were  certain  unscrupulous  men  at  court," 


TEA  T  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  233 

he  admitted,  "who  harbored  ambitious  designs 
of  bringing  themselves  into  notice  by  inducing 
the  king  to  allow  them  to  attempt  to  conquer 
more  territory  for  France.  I  have  urged  the 
cardinal  to  restrain  such  spirits,  and  to  limit  our 
attempts  at  conquest  to  a  spiritual  kingdom.  I 
am  ready  to  give  my  life  for  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen,  but  I  shall  steadfastly  oppose  all  at- 
tempts to  win  them  from  their  allegiance  to  your 
flag." 

Father  Jogues  left  in  a  few  days  for  the  very 
tribe  which  had  tortured  him,  and  Kiliaen  insisted 
on  accompanying  him  to  their  first  castle  to  insure 
his  favorable  reception.  Here,  when  the  Jesuit  ex- 
plained that  he  had  been  sent  to  negotiate  a  peace 
between  the  French  and  the  Iroquois,  Kiliaen  as- 
sured the  chief,  Saheda,  that  this  peace  had  the  en- 
tire approval  of  his  Dutch  allies,  and  urged  him  to 
exert  his  influence  with  the  other  Iroquois  to  con- 
clude it.  He  was  convinced  of  Father  Jogues'  good 
faith,  but  was  rendered  uneasy  by  the  suggestion 
that  there  was  some  scheme  brewing  at  the  French 
court  which  might  bring  on  hostilities  between  the 
French  and  the  Dutch,  and  before  he  parted  from 
the  good  priest,  begged  him  to  explain  more  defi- 
nitely his  vague  allusions. 

Father  Jogues  admitted  that  he  had  talked  with 


234  ANNEKE. 

one  young  man  who  advocated  the  right  of  France 
to  the  entire  North  American  Continent,  and  was 
so  insane  as  to  say  that  it  was  the  ambition  of  his 
life  to  head  an  expedition  to  sweep  the  Dutch  and 
the  English  from  America.  "  But  be  not  alarmed," 
the  priest  added,  "  this  man  was  only  a  fanatical 
young  noble  named  Frontenac,  without  great  influ- 
ence, and  with  no  means  to  prosecute  his  insane  and 
wicked  schemes.  You  need  not  fear  until  you  hear 
that  he  is  Governor  of  Canada.  Nor  then,  for  while 
I  live  he  can  do  nothing.  I  have  the  ear  of  Mazarin, 
who  controls  the  king,  and  of  the  Jesuits  of  Canada, 
who  control  the  Indians.  Fear  not  the  rage  of 
man." 

As  he  was  leaving  he  said  to  Anneke,  "  I  have 
brought  you  a  little  gift.  May  it  bring  you  con- 
solation when  you  are  in  trouble  as  it  did  to  me." 
And  Anneke  was  not  surprised  to  find  that  the 
missionary's  present  was  a  little  book,  The  Imita- 
tion of  Christ. 

So  Anneke  and  Kiliaen  received  the  blessing  of 
the  good  priest,  and  saw  him  no  more. 

"  You  have  driven  a  nail  in  your  own  coffin,  in 
sanctioning  his  mission  to  the  Iroquois,"  said  Yan 
Corlear.  "If  the  French  win  over  our  allies  we 
are  defenceless." 

"  No    matter,"   replied    Kiliaen,    "  I   believe   in 


THA  T  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  235 

Father  Jogues,  and  am  willing  to  take  the  con- 
sequences." 

The  Jesuit  did  not  remain  long  with  the 
Mohawks.  Having  accomplished  his  mission  he 
returned  to  Canada,  but  he  promised  that  he  would 
return  to  them  again  and  expound  to  them  his  re- 
ligion. In  pledge  of  this  he  left  in  their  keeping  a 
box  containing  various  church  utensils,  and  among 
them  an  ivory  crucifix.  Unfortunately  sickness 
fell  upon  the  Iroquois  the  following  winter,  and  in 
the  summer  a  pestilence  devoured  their  crops. 
Their  medicine  men  insisted  that  the  Black  Robe 
had  left  an  evil  talisman  among  them  to  work  their 
destruction.  Bursting  open  the  chest  they  found 
the  image  of  a  man  stretched  in  torture  upon  a 
cross,  and  the  wizard  pointed  triumphantly  to  this 
sign  of  suffering.  They  destroyed  it,  and  the  evil 
spell  appeared  to  be  lifted. 

Another  year,  and  hostilities  broke  out  between 
the  Hurons  and  the  Iroquois.  Father  Jogues  was 
sent  with  some  Hurons  to  pacify  the  Five  Nations. 
He  knew  that  in  their  enraged  state  this  was  im- 
possible, but  he  accepted  the  mission,  assuring  his 
friends  that  he  was  going  to  his  death.  Half  way 
between  Lake  George  and  the  Mohawk  Country  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  carried  to  their  town  of 
Caughnawaga.  Here  he  was  summoned  to  an  in- 


236  ANNEKE. 

terview  with  a  chief  and  as  he  was  stooping  to 
enter  the  wigwam  was  struck  down  with  a  toma- 
hawk and  killed. 

There  was  great  grief  at  Eensselaerswyck  when 
the  news  of  the  murder  of  the  devoted  missionary 
was  brought  them,  and  the  Mohawks  were  made  to 
understand  how  wicked  the  deed  had  been,  and 
that  it  would  surely  be  avenged  by  the  French. 

Arendt  Van  Corlear  had  laid  out  a  new  village 
in  the  spot  which  he  had  alwa}rs  regarded  as  the 
most  beautiful  in  all  the  Rensselaer  domain. 
Schenectady  was  the  darling  of  his  heart,  and  the 
very  outpost  of  civilization.  Schuyler  too  had 
established  a  manor  near  Saratoga,  and  these  settle- 
ments and  other  scattered  farms  were  exposed  to 
the  incursions  of  the  Hurons.  Kiliaen  saw  the 
necessity  of  an  understanding  with  the  French 
Governor,  and  taking  with  him  letters  from  the 
Governor  of  New  Netherlands,  he  set  out  with  Yan 
Corlear  for  Canada. 

Although  feverishly  anxious  to  go,  Kiliaen  was 
oppressed  by  a  presentiment  of  coming  evil. 
Anneke  and  he  had  been  very  happy  since  their 
coming  to  Rensselaerswyck.  Over  on  the  east- 
shore  they  had  bought  of  the  Mohegans  land 
stretching  beyond  the  blue  Berkshires  into  Massa- 
chusetts. On  this  opposite  bank  Kiliaen  was  build- 


THA  T  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  237 

ing  a  new  house  for  himself  and  Anneke.  They 
called  the  place  The  Grails,  after  an  estate  owned 
by  Kiliaen's  father  near  Amsterdam,  and  they  were 
looking  forward  to  taking  possession  of  it  in  the 
following  spring.  The  day  before  Kiliaen  started 
for  Canada  they  rowed  over  to  the  new  home,  that 
he  might  leave  orders  for  the  work  to  be  done  in 
his  absence.  A  pretty  garden,  in  the  formal  Dutch 
style,  with  clipped  trees  and  beds  of  tulips,  had 
already  been  laid  out,  a  terrace  descended  to  the 
little  landing,  and  Anneke  had  transplanted  wild 
roses,  and  set  flowering  shrubs,  laurel  and  pink 
azaleas,  along  the  borders.  They  walked  about 
the  place,  and  Anneke  strove  to  interest  Kiliaen  in 
her  plans  for  a  dovecote  here,  and  a  rabbit  warren 
there,  but  he  was  listless  and  sad.  Seeing  that 
he  scarcely  listened,  she  sat  down  by  his  side  in 
a  rustic  seat  and  quietly  waited.  Suddenly  he 
drew  her  closer  to  him.  "  You  have  been  happy, 
Anneke  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Very,"  she  replied.  "  And  you,  dear  Kiliaen  ?  " 
"  Not  quite.  There  has  been  something  on  my 
conscience  for  a  long  time,  which  I  ought  to  have 
told  you.  You  married  me  because  you  believed 
Willie  ISTicoll  a  villain.  You  thought  that  he  dis- 
guised himself  as  the  prince  to  deceive  our  grand- 
father and  steal  your  love.  That  was  not  his  mo- 


238  ANNEKE. 

tive.  He  sustained  the  Prince's  character  at  the 
Prince's  own  request,  and  loyalty  to  his  word  made 
it  impossible  for  him  to  tell  you  this  when  you 
charged  him  with  dishonor." 

"  Surely  you  did  not  know  this,  when  you  asked 
me  to  marry  you  ?  "  Anneke  asked  in  a  stifled  voice. 

"  No,  Anneke,  I  was  not  so  base  as  that ;  I  never 
knew  it  until  our  talk  after  we  floated  together  be- 
tween death  and  life  after  leaving  the  pirate  ship. 
He  had  gone  to  Maracaibo  with  the  pirates  simply 
to  find  and  save  me  for  your  sake.  He  urged  me 
not  to  tell  you,  and  I  did  not  tell  you  for  I  feared 
I  might  lose  your  love.  Have  I  lost  it,  Anneke  ?  " 

"  I  love  you  all  the  more,  Kiliaen,  for  telling  me 
now.  It  was  right  that  I  should  know  that  Willie 
Nicoll  was  not  the  despicable  creature  that  I 
thought  him,  but  that  knowledge  can  make  no  dif- 
ference with  us,  dear  Kiliaen." 

The  tears  came  to  his  eyes,  for  his  heart  was  full, 
and  he  had  borne  the  burden  long. 

"If  anything  should  happen,"  he  said,  "you  will 
tell  Willie  that  I  told  you,  and  that  you  still  loved 
me." 

"  If  I  ever  see  him  again,  certainly  ;  but  that  is  not 
likely,  for  we  have  not  heard  from  him  since  he  left 
you  at  Aruba." 

"  He  will  find  you,"  Kiliaen  said,  "  but  now  I  do 


TEA  T  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  239 

not  dread  it,  since  you  know  all  and  have  no  regret." 
A  great  strain  had  been  removed  from  his  mind  and 
from  that  time  until  he  left  he  was  gay  and  boyish. 
"I  shall  have  great  stories  to  tell  you  of  New 
France  when  I  come  back,"  he  said,  "  but  if  they 
boast  of  their  fine  ladies  so  shall  I.  So  that  we 
shall  soon  see  a  procession  of  French  gentlemen 
coming  down  to  New  Netherlands  for  Dutch  wives. 
But  seriously,  Anneke,  I  have  no  fears  of  French 
invasion,  for  though  we  have  lost  our  great  peace- 
advocate,  Father  Jogues,  there  seem  to  be  no  signs 
of  war,  and  we  need  not  desert  our  home  till  we 
hear  of  the  coming  of  Frontenac." 

He  went  away  the  next  morning  with  Van  Cor- 
lear  and  two  Mohawks.  They  ascended  the  Hudson 
in  canoes,  making  a  portage  to  Lake  George,  and 
intending  to  continue  through  Lake  Champlain  and 
the  Kichelieu  River  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  But  on 
Lake  George,  which  had  been  discovered  by  Father 
Jogues,  and  named  by  him  St.  Sacrament,  a  sudden 
storm  came  up,  the  skiffs  were  capsized,  and  the 
wise  Yan  Corlear,  with  the  young  and  high-minded 
Kiliaen,  was  drowned.  One  of  their  Indian  serv- 
ants escaped  and  brought  back  the  terrible  news, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  recover  their  bodies. 

For  days  Anneke  went  about  her  duties  dry -eyed, 
stunned  by  the  terrible  blow,  and  unreconciled  to 


240  ANNEKE. 

God's  will.  But  one  morning  her  attention  was  at- 
tracted by  the  little  book  which  Father  Jogues  had 
given  her. 

He  had  not  said,  read  it  if  you  are  in  trouble, 
but  "  when  you  are  in  trouble."  How  did  he  know 
that  trouble  would  surely  come?  She  had  not 
opened  it  because  she  had  been  so  happy,  but  now 
she  read  greedily  the  very  words  which  he  had 
shown  to  Kiliaen  when  he  was  a  captive.  It 
seemed  to  her  a  personal  message  from  the  good 
priest  bidding  her  be  patient,  and  at  last  the  tears, 
which  had  refused  to  flow,  brought  relief  to  her 
burning  brain  as  she  read  the  triumphant  assurance 
of  Jesus. 

"  Lift  up  therefore  your  face  unto  heaven,  behold 
I  and  all  my  saints  who  had  in  this  world  sharp 
conflict  now  rejoice,  now  are  comforted,  now  are  in 
safety,  now  are  in  rest.  And  they  shall  remain 
with  me  in  my  Father's  kingdom  forever." 

Very  bravely  Anneke  took  up  the  burden  of  life 
again.  Kiliaen's  death  was  not  the  only  misfortune 
to  fall  at  this  time  on  Eensselaerswyck.  He  of  all 
the  family  who  would  have  felt  it  most  never  knew 
that  the  young  life  had  gone  out  in  which  all  of  his 
hopes  had  been  centred.  The  steady  hand  of  the 
great  Patroon,  Kiliaen  Yan  Rensselaer  of  Amster- 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.      241 

dam,  was  no  longer  at  the  helm.  His  life  of  im- 
mense activity  and  achievement  had  closed;  and 
not  his  family  and  Rensselaerswyck  alone,  but  the 
great  "West  India  Company  and  all  New  Nether- 
land  were  to  feel  the  loss  of  his  sagacious  counsel 
and  ever  ready  resources. 

Jeremias  Yan  Rensselaer,  smitten  at  once  by  the 
loss  of  father  and  son-in-law,  rose  to  the  emergency, 
but  he  had  never  held  the  barony  except  as  in  trust. 
There  was  no  hope  now  of  keeping  it  united,  and 
he  foresaw  its  division  and  disintegration.  There 
were  also  more  pressing  and  immediate  dangers. 

For  ten  years  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
Amsterdam  had  kept  their  truce,  but  now  they  rose 
in  war,  and  this  time,  as  always,  it  was  the  white 
man's  fault.  Ensign  Yan  Dyck,  saw  an  Indian 
woman  gathering  peaches  in  his  orchard  and  wick- 
edly shot  her  dead.  This  roused  all  the  tribes. 
They  burned  villages,  desolated  Staten  Island  and 
New  Jersey,  killing  one  hundred  settlers,  taking 
one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  and  rendering  three 
hundred  more  homeless.  The  damage  inflicted  was 
estimated  at  over  eighty  thousand  dollars,  a  great 
blow  for  the  infant  colony. 

Stuyvesant  soon  quelled  this  outbreak,  and  at 
first  showed  great  moderation  in  dealing  with  the 
Indians,  so  that  nearly  all  the  captives  were  ran- 


242  ANNEKE. 

somed  ;  but  hatred  rankled  in  the  hearts  of  one  of 
the  most  powerful  tribes,  the  Esopus.  They  bided 
their  time,  and  waited  for  provocation  and  oppor- 
tunity. 

In  August,  1659,  a  band  of  these  Indians  were 
employed  by  a  settler  in  husking  corn.  In  the 
evening  they  were  supplied  with  brandy  and  were 
carousing  noisily  in  the  barn.  Some  soldiers  in  a 
neighboring  outpost  hearing  their  shouts  insanely 
attacked  the  drunken  creatures  who  were  "  doing 
no  harm  to  any  one  but  themselves,"  and  killed 
one  and  wounded  several  others.  Horrible  war 
now  broke  out  anew,  and  it  was  feared  that  the 
Mohawks  would  join  with  the  Esopus  Indians. 

Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  with  other  prominent 
men  proceeded  to  Caughnawaga  and  called  a  council 
of  the  Iroquois,  giving  them  presents  of  wampum  and 
ammunition,  and  asking  for  a  renewal  of  friendship. 
The  Indians  not  only  pledged  alliance  with  the 
Dutch,  but  placing  the  blame  of  the  war  exactly 
where  it  rested,  asked  the  Dutch  not  to  sell  intoxi- 
cating liquors  to  the  Indians. 

They  kept  their  treaty,  and  several  times  acted 
as  intermediaries  between  Stuyvesant  and  the 
Esopus  Indians  in  the  ransoming  of  prisoners,  and 
at  length  the  war  ended  (as  all  foresaw  it  must  if 
the  Mohawks  maintained  neutrality)  in  the  com- 


THAT  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  243 

plete  victory  of  the  Dutch,  and  the  annihilation  of 
the  Esopus  tribe. 

Hardly  were  the  Indians  silenced  when  another 
very  serious  matter  demanded  Stuyvesant's  atten- 
tion. Ever  since  his  unsatisfactory  treaty  with 
Winthrop  concerning  the  boundary  question  there 
had  been  dissatisfaction  between  the  Dutch  and  the 
English.  There  had  been  a  short  period  during  the 
rule  of  Cromwell  when  Holland  and  England  had 
been  at  war,  and  the  inhabitants  of  New  England 
had  prepared  for  an  armed  invasion  of  New  Nether- 
land.  But  the  news  that  peace  had  been  declared 
at  home  had  arrived  before  the  expedition  had 
actually  set  out,  and  the  Dutch  believed  that  the 
danger  was  averted. 

But  now,  that  Charles  II.  had  come  to  the 
throne,  though  England  and  Holland  were  at  peace, 
most  alarming  encroachments  were  being  com- 
mitted by  the  New  Englanders  on  the  territory  of 
New  Netherland. 

Stuyvesant  sailed  to  Boston  to  try  to  obtain  an 
adjustment  of  the  difficulty,  but  he  could  effect  noth- 
ing. He  learned  here  that  a  charter  had  been 
granted  to  Connecticut  by  King  Charles  and  that 
the  boundaries  must  remain  as  there  defined.  On 
his  return  to  New  Amsterdam,  the  Dutch  Governor 
found  that  an  Englishman  named  Scott  had  visited 


244  ANN  EKE. 

the  different  towns  in  Long  Island  and  informed 
the  inhabitants  that  they  were  no  longer  citizens  of 
New  Netherland,  but  of  Connecticut.  Stuyvesant 
at  once  sent  commissioners  to  Governor  Winthrop 
at  Hartford  to  attempt  to  settle  the  difficulty  of  the 
boundary.  The  General  Assembly  of  the  State  at 
Hartford  appointed  a  committee  to  meet  the  dele- 
gation from  New  Amsterdam  and  to  read  them  the 
charter  just  obtained  from  Charles  II.  What  was 
the  consternation  of  the  honest  Dutchmen  to  find 
that  the  grant  of  the  new  king  of  England  to  the 
State  of  Connecticut  included  all  the  land  south  of 
the  Massachusetts  line  to  Virginia,  and  from  Nar- 
ragansett  Bay  on  the  east  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  on 
the  west ! 

"  What  then  becomes  of  our  treaty  of  1650  ?  " 
asked  the  Dutch  Commissioners. 

"  That  treaty,"  replied  the  Assembly,  "  is  now 
only  waste  paper.  We  do  not  recognize  any  prov- 
ince of  New  Netherland.  The  land  which  you 
call  by  that  name  is  included  in  our  patent.  We 
shall  possess  it,  and  maintain  it." 

This  message  the  commissioners  brought  back  to 
Stuyvesant  in  a  letter  from  the  General  Assembly, 
which,  ignoring  his  title  of  Governor  of  New  Neth- 
erland, was  discourteously  addressed  to  the  "  Di- 
rector of  the  West  India  Company." 


THA  T  PEARL  OF  PEARLS.  245 

Anxious,  but  still  resolute,  Governor  Stuyvesant 
summoned  his  council  and  began  to  fortify  New 
Amsterdam,  and  in  other  ways  to  prepare  for  hos- 
tilities. 

Provisions,  ammunition  and  soldiers  were  needed, 
and  the  Governor  in  his  little  yacht  hurried  up  the 
river  to  Kennselaerswyck  to  ask  for  help  from 
Jeremias  Van  Kensselaer. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


A    CAVALIER   OF   KING   CHARLES. 

And  hark!  like  the  roar  of  the  billows  on  the  shore, 
The  cry  of  battle  rises  along  the  charging  line! 

For  God!  for  the  Cause!  for  the  Church!  for  the  Laws! 
For  Charles,  King  of  England,  and  Rupert  of  the  Rhine. 

— Macaulay. 

ILLIE  NICOLL 
reached  England  at  a 
most  exciting  time.  It 
was  the  summer  of 
1645  just  before  the 
battle  of  Naseby. 
Like  a  good  royalist 
he  immediately  joined 
the  King  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  com- 
mand of  Prince  Eu- 
pert,  whose  cavalry 

had   lost   so   many   of   its  flower  in  the  battle  of 

Marston  Moor. 

Willie  was  with  Prince  Rupert  in  that  gallant 

charge  at  Naseby  and  followed  the  flash  of   his 

scarlet  cloak,  when,  burning  to  wipe  out  the  humilia- 

246 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       247 

tion  of  their  previous  defeat,  his  cavaliers  mowed 
their  path  through  Ireton's  men,  and,  never  dream- 
ing but  their  cause  was  everywhere  victorious,  fol- 
lowed them  too  far.  Keturning  jaded  from  that 
inconsiderate  chase,  he  had  found  the  brave  king 
overwhelmed  by  Cromwell,  and  the  main  army  in 
mad  retreat. 

Had  Rupert  rejoined  his  uncle  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore, the  day  might  have  been  theirs,  for  Charles 
was  urging  his  men  on  to  a  last  desperate  charge 
when  the  Earl  of  Carn wrath,  seeing  how  few  were 
his  followers,  seized  his  horse  by  the  bridle  and 
turning  it  around  gave  the  signal  for  flight. 

Henceforth  Willie's  fortunes  were  to  be  those  of 
Prince  Rupert.  He  was  with  him  in  the  siege  of 
Bristol,  and  fled  with  him  to  France  when  the  King 
ordered  him  to  leave  England.  He  joined  him  in 
Holland  when  the  Prince  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  royal  fleet,  and  the  cavalier  army  became  a 
navy. 

The  Prince  of  Orange  sympathized  warmly  with 
his  royal  father-in-law,  King  Charles.  The  ports  of 
Holland  were  havens  for  his  ships.  The  Hague  was 
full  of  intrigues  to  rescue  the  King,  in  one  of  which 
the  Prince  is  known  to  have  been  concerned. 

Willie  had  not  seen  Prince  William  since  they 
parted  in  Rembrandt's  studio,  but  the  day  after  he 


248  ANNEKE. 

had  been  assigned  to  his  ship,  a  gay  little  barge 
came  alongside,  and  the  Prince  came  on  board. 

Willie  met  Prince  William  in  the  cabin,  and 
learned  from  him  that  Prince  Rupert  had  indicated 
his  vessel  for  a  bit  of  secret  service.  King  Charles 
was  a  prisoner  in  Carrisbrooke  Castle,  in  the  Isle 
of  Wight.  They  were  to  approach  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, await  certain  signals,  and,  if  all  succeeded  as 
planned,  bring  the  king  to  Holland. 

"  You  can  imagine,"  said  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
"  the  agony  with  which  my  wife  awaits  the  issue 
of  the  attempt  to  rescue  her  father.  I  have  been 
informed  by  Prince  Rupert  that  he  has  not  a  ship 
in  his  command  manned  by  more  loyal  officers,  and 
I  willingly  trust  this  dangerous  and  delicate  busi- 
ness to  your  discretion." 

As  the  Captain  replied,  Prince  William  looked  at 
Willie  more  keenly.  Three  years  upon  the  Spanish 
main,  and  one  in  campaign  life  had  changed  the 
youth  to  a  weather-beaten  soldier,  but  nevertheless 
the  Prince  was  puzzled.  "  Where  have  I  seen  you 
before  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  once  served  my  king,  and  your  Highness  also, 
much  to  my  own  damage,"  Willie  replied,  "  and  I 
am  ready  to  serve  you  both  again,  though  it  should 
cost  me  as  dear." 

Prince   William   recognized   his  voice    and    ex- 


A    CAVAIJKR    OF    KING    CHARLES. 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       249 

claimed,  "'Tis  the  young  cavalier  to  whom  my  wife 
owes  it  that  she  possesses  her  mother's  jewels.  I 
am.  sorry  that  enterprise  was  unfortunate  for  you. 
God  speed  you  in  this  one.  You  will  never 
regret  it." 

For  six  days  the  ship  waited  at  the  rendezvous, 
moving  away  when  other  vessels  appeared  to  sus- 
pect her  but  ever  returning  to  her  port.  Through 
fog  and  blinding  rain,  by  night  and  by  day,  Willie 
watched  for  the  signal  that  was  to  tell  them  that 
the  King  had  left  the  castle,  and  that  a  boat  must 
be  sent  to  a  certain  secluded  spot  on  the  beach. 
That  signal  never  came  ;  but  one  day  a  sloop  passed 
at  a  little  distance,  and  in  passing  ran  up  three  lan- 
terns, which  signified  that  the  attempt  had  failed 
and  they  were  to  return. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  January,  1649,  Charles  1.  was 
beheaded  in  front  of  his  palace  of  Whitehall.  His 
execution  is  acknowledged  to  have  been  a  great 
political  blunder  even  by  the  supporters  of  Puritan 
principles.  Cromwell  himself,  as  he  gazed  on  his 
dead  face,  murmured,  "Cruel  necessity."  For 
Charles  I.,  in  his  private  life  was  pure  and  high- 
minded,  passionately  devoted  to  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, brave  in  battle  and  heroic  in  his  death.  A 
courtly  gentleman  and  a  good  Christian,  as  it  was 
given  him  to  understand  the  religion  of  Christ. 


250  ANNEKE. 

He  said  while  dressing  on  the  morning  of  his  exe- 
cution, "  Let  me  be  as  trim  as  may  be,  this  is  my 
second  marriage  day ;  for  before  night  I  hope  to  be 
espoused  to  my  blessed  Jesus." 

On  the  scaffold  he  was  undismayed,  dignified  but 
gentle.  It  was  the  most  truly  royal  moment  of  his 
life,  for  his  sublime  bearing  in  that  supreme  crisis 
won  the  hearts  even  of  his  enemies.  A  puritan 
poem  wrote  of  him : 

"  He  nothing  common  did  or  mean 
Upon  that  memorable  scene. 
But  with  his  keener  eye, 
The  axe's  edge  did  try  ; 
And  bowed  his  comely  head 
Down,  as  upon  a  bed." 

While  at  this  distance  we  pity  the  royal  victim 
of  the  march  of  events,  as  we  do  the  innocent  Louis 
XVI.,  and  Marie  Antoinette,  we  must  not  forget 
that  the  world  had  outgrown  the  system  and  prin- 
ciple which  they  represented, — the  divine  right  of 
kings.  Charles  gave  his  life  for  that  principle.  He 
asserted  in  his  farewell  words  from  the  scaffold,  "  A 
subject  and  a  sovereign  are  clean  different  things ; 
the  liberty  of  the  people  consists  in  having  of  the 
Government  those  laws  by  which  their  lives  and 
goods  may  be  most  their  own,  but  for  having  a  share 
in  the  Government  is  nothing  pertaining  to  them." 

The  royal  family  took  refuge  in  France  and  in 


A  CAVALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       251 

Holland.  Though  Cromwell  held  the  reins  of  gov- 
ernment, from  the  moment  that  Charles  I.  died, 
Charles  II.  was,  for  the  royalist  party,  the  rightful 
king  of  England. 

While  he  lingered  in  exile  at  a  foreign  court,  his 
cousin,  Prince  Rupert,  as  his  admiral  of  the  seas,  sup- 
ported him  and  his  needy  courtiers  by  his  formida- 
ble buccaneering.  Sometimes  he  did  this  by  dodg- 
ing the  Parliament's  fleet  and  receiving  supplies  off 
the  coast  of  England,  and  sometimes  by  capturing 
Spanish  galleons  on  their  return  from  the  West 
Indies,  or  by  bartering  gums  and  ivory  of  Africa 
for  gunpowder  and  wine  in  Portugal. 

At  one  time  he  wrote  to  Charles,  "  We  take  to 
the  Mediterranean,  poverty  and  despair  our  com- 
panions and  revenge  our  guide,"  but  soon  after  he 
was  able  to  report : 

"  I  have  sold  my  prizes  for  £40,000.  I  have  one 
hundred  thousand  men  aboard  the  fleet,  and  we  are 
now  victualling  for  four  months  more." 

His  chaplain  wrote  in  his  diary,  "Whereas  the 
Prince  found  the  fleet  mutinous  and  tempted  by 
the  Earl  of  Warwick's  agents,  he  who  was  so  lately 
necessitated  for  want  of  men  and  money  hath  now 
profusely  of  both,  and  begins  to  plow  the  main 
with  confidence,  claiming  the  obedience  thereof  to 
his  standard." 


252  ANNEKE. 

Willie  might  not  have  embarked  upon  another 
buccaneering  expedition  had  it  not  been  for  an  ex- 
perience which  happened  to  him  in  Holland.  He 
had  taken  a  little  trip  to  Amsterdam,  desiring  to 
revisit  the  old  scenes  so  full  of  bitter-sweet  mem- 
ories. He  passed  by,  without  entering,  the  great 
diamond  establishment  of  the  old  Patroon  now  car- 
ried on  by  his  son,  Johannes  Van  Kensselaer,  but  he 
strove  to  find  Rembrandt,  and  was  saddened  to 
learn  of  the  death  of  Saskia,  and  that  the  affairs  of 
the  painter  had  gone  from  bad  to  worse,  until  his 
reckless  extravagance  as  a  collector  had  rendered 
him  insolvent.  His  friends  however  had  not  de- 
serted him,  and  Willie  learned  that  he  was  living  in 
retirement  on  the  estate  of  Burgomaster  Six,  where 
he  was  solacing  himself  by  etching  the  marvellous 
landscapes  which  have  contributed  so  much  to  his 
fame. 

At  Leyden  Willie  knocked  at  the  door  of  his  old 
quarters,  and  was  welcomed  by  a  young  student, 
who  introduced  himself  as  Robert  Brewster,  a  New 
Englander,  who  had  come  to  the  university  for  an 
education,  and  had  taken  the  rooms  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  his  uncle,  Love  Brewster. 

Willie  immediately  related  what  he  already  knew 
of  the  young  man's  father  and  uncle,  and  was  taken 
into  the  youth's  confidence. 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       253 

He  begged  Willie  to  help  him  execute  a  com- 
mand of  his  father's  which  he  had  been  unable  to 
obey. 

"  My  father,"  said  Robert  Brewster,  "  was  with 
Raleigh  on  his  last  unfortunate  expedition,  and  re- 
mained for  some  years  in  the  hands  of  the  Spanish 
settlers  of  the  Orinoco.  He  said  to  me  on  leaving 
home : 

"  *  Fail  not  to  make  careful  inquiry  for  Lady  Ra- 
leigh, and  give  her  my  duty.  Tell  her  that  her 
husband  was  right ;  that  I  have  explored  his  gold 
mines.  I  worked  in  them  while  a  prisoner  with 
the  Spaniards ;  but  the  Spanish  colony  was  driven 
out  by  the  great  Indian  uprising,  and  the  entire 
country  is  overrun  with  tribes  hostile  to  all  Euro- 
peans. Raleigh  himself  could  not  conquer  that 
country  now.' 

"  I  objected  to  my  father,"  Robert  Brewster  con- 
tinued, "  that  some  day  that  land  might  be  opened 
to  the  English,  and  some  descendant  of  ours  might 
amass  wealth  if  he  knew  the  exact  locality  of  these 
mines,  and  my  father  replied : 

"'The  wealth  is  already  amassed.  While  en- 
trusted by  my  captors,  on  account  of  my  knowledge 
of  metallurgy,  with  the  superintendence  of  the 
mines,  I  buried  vast  quantities  of  pure  gold  in  an 
underground  vault  known  only  to  myself  and  to 


254  ANNEKE. 

the  friendly  Indian,  Harry,  who  escaped  with  me 
and  died  in  Plymouth  last  year.' 

"  *  Then,  father,'  I  said,  '  why  do  you  not  make 
maps  which  would  enable  a  searcher  to  find  those 
mines  and  especially  this  treasure  vault  ?  ' 

"  '  The  love  of  gold,'  said  my  good  mother,  '  is 
the  root  of  all  evil.  How  often  the  fathers  of  this 
colony  have  rejoiced  that  no  precious  metals  existed 
here,  to  draw  the  colonists  from  homely  but  neces- 
sary labor  and  to  breed  dissension  amongst  them. 
I  would  be  in  despair  if  I  saw  you  a  victim  to  the 
mania  of  the  gold  seeker.  I  am  glad  that  the  posi- 
tion of  the  mines  is  unknown,  that  the  country  is 
guarded  by  savages,  that  their  very  existence  is  dis- 
credited. There  let  El  Dorado  remain,  impene- 
trable, and  derided  as  an  illusive  dream  until  the 
very  memory  of  the  fable  fades  from  the  mind  of 
man.' 

"  *  Nevertheless,'  replied  my  father,  calmly,  '  it  is 
no  fable ;  and  I  have  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  draw 
just  such  a  map  as  Robert  has  suggested,  whereby, 
if  the  savages  were  not  hostile,  it  would  be  an  easy 
thing  for  a  specially  equipped  exploring  party  to 
find  the  mines  and  the  treasure  chamber.  But  this 
treasure  is  not  for  any  of  our  line,  for  it  belongs  by 
right  of  inheritance  to  the  race  of  that  daring  ex- 
plorer who  sacrificed  wealth  and  ease  and  life  itself 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       255 

in  the  attempt  to  enrich  not  himself  but  his  perfid- 
ious king.  Sir  Walter's  younger  son,  named  for 
his  friend  Carew,  may  still  be  alive.  Seek  out  that 
young  man  and  give  to  him  the  papers  which  I  will 
entrust  to  you.  Fail  not,  be  faithful  in  your  stew- 
ardship. It  is  my  chief  joy  in  sending  you  back  to 
the  mother  country  that  I  may  acquit  myself  of 
this  duty.' " 

"  And  have  you  done  this  ?  "  asked  Willie. 

"  Alas,  no,"  replied  the  young  man.  "  I  have  not 
been  able  to  find  Carew  Kaleigh,  though  I  hear 
that  he  still  lives  in  straitened  circumstances.  He 
could  fit  out  no  expedition,  but  you,  who  say  you 
are  thinking  of  sailing  to  the  Spanish  Main  might 
make  such  terms  with  Prince  Rupert  whereby  the 
son  of  the  great  explorer  would  receive  a  goodly 
portion  of  this  treasure;  and  should  the  greater 
part  enrich  the  royal  coffers  it  is  but  what  Raleigh 
would  have  wished." 

Willie  introduced  Robert  Brewster  to  Prince 
Rupert  who  heard  the  story  carelessly.  He  was 
evidently  incredulous,  but  he  bade  Willie  keep  the 
chart,  promising  to  search  for  the  mines, — if  he 
found  it  convenient. 

The  time  never  came.  The  Prince  had  made  up 
his  mind  to  seek  seriously  for  El  Dorado  when  the 
tragedy  of  the  sinking  of  his  flagship  with  three 


256  ANN  EKE. 

hundred  and  thirty-three  of  its  crew,  and  his  own 
narrow  escape,  led  to  his  relinquishment  of  the  life 
of  a  sea-rover. 

Willie  returned  to  England  before  the  end  of  the 
Commonwealth,  sick  of  buccaneering  and  devoted 
himself  quietly  to  the  study  of  law.  At  length, 
after  the  death  of  Cromwell,  the  pendulum  of  pop- 
ular sentiment  swung  back  to  a  desire  for  absolute 
monarchy,  and  the  restoration  of  the  house  of 
Stuart.  On  the  26th  of  May,  1660,  Charles  II.  was 
welcomed  with  wild  expressions  of  enthusiasm,  and 
ascending  the  throne  was  endowed  with  the  oppor- 
tunities and  responsibilities  which  he  so  shamelessly 
abused.  It  was  in  his  power  to  have  made  the  en- 
tire Puritan  movement  seem  a  grotesque  mistake  ; 
but  if  anything  could  have  justified  its  past  severi- 
ties surely  the  dishonorable  and  profligate  reign  of 
Charles  II.  would  have  done  so. 

London  was  soon  filled  with  a  swarm  of  greedy, 
poverty-stricken  courtiers,  clamoring  for  office. 
Charles  had  no  sense  of  gratitude  and  no  discrim- 
ination. His  gifts  were  showered  upon  dissolute 
favorites  while  many  a  loyal  old  cavalier  could 
say: 

"For  our  martyred  Charles  I  lost  my  lands, 

For  his  son  I  spent  my  all  ; 
That  a  churl  might  dine  and  drink  my  wine 
And  preach  in  my  father's  hall. 


A  CA  VALIEE  OF  KING  CHARLES.       257 

That  father  died  on  Marston  Moor, 

My  son  on  Worcester  plain  ; 
But  the  King  he  turned  his  back  on  me 

When  he  came  to  his  own  again." 

One  staunch  friend  of  his  exile  Charles  remem- 
bered, and  the  Reverend  Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer 
who  had  foretold  the  restoration  and  had  come  to 
England,  was  made  Chaplain  of  the  Dutch  Chapel 
at  Westminster.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  the 
Bishop  of  Salisbury,  and  given  a  lectureship  at  St. 
Margaret's,  Lotterbury. 

He  did  not  however  remain  permanently  in  Eng- 
land, but  emigrated  to  Rensselaerswyck  after  the 
death  of  his  nephew  Kiliaen,  where  he  married 
Alida  Schuyler.1 

In  New  England  the  Restoration  could  but  bring 
misgiving.  The  original  grant  of  "the  Connec- 
ticut River  and  places  adjoining  thereto  "  had  been 
made  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick  to  Lords  Say  and 
Brooke.  This  document  declared  that : 

"Robert  Earl  of  Warwick  sendeth  greeting  in 
our  Lord  God  everlasting  to  all  people  unto  whom 
this  present  writing  shall  come,  He  gives,  grants, 

1  His  old  power  of  clairvoyance  did  not  desert  him,  for  when  on  his 
deathbed  young  Robert  Livingston  was  summoned  to  draw  up  his 
will,  he  cried  imperiously,  "not  that  young  man,"  and  when  the 
notary  had  gone  Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer  explained  that  he  foresaw 
that  Livingston  would  become  the  second  husband  of  his  widow,  a 
prophecy  which  may  have  suggested  its  own  fulfillment. 


258  ANN  EKE. 

bargains,  sells,  enfeoffs,  aliens  and  confirms  the  soil 
from  the  Narragansett  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean 
and  all  jurisdiction  which  the  said  Robert  Earl  of 
Warwick  now  hath  or  had  or  might  use,  exercise  or 
enjoy." 

Evidently  this  claim  had  never  been  taken  very 
seriously  by  the  grantees  themselves,  since  they  had 
made  a  treaty  with  Stuyvesant  fixing  the  western 
boundary  at  ten  miles  east  of  the  Hudson  River. 
It  never  appeared  that  Robert  Earl  of  Warwick 
ever  had  any  jurisdiction  to  sell,  but  if  a  kingly 
pretender  claimed  the  right  to  convey  the  same 
land  though  with  no  title,  the  matter  took  on  a 
different  aspect.  The  King  had  armies  to  maintain 
what  he  might  seize,  and  the  assembly  of  the  state 
of  Connecticut  determined  to  send  a  petition  to 
Charles  II.  for  a  new  charter. 

As  an  early  New  England  poet  quaintly  wrote : 

"  Learned  Winthrop  then  by  general  consent 
Sat  at  the  helm  to  sway  the  government, 
Who  prudently  the  people  doth  advise, 
To  ask  the  King  for  chartered  liberties. 
All  like  his  counsel  well,  and  all  reply, 
Sir,  you  must  undertake  our  agency." 

Winthrop  came  to  London  bearing  a  ring  which 
his  father  had  received  from  Charles  I.,  and  it  is 
generally  stated  that  Charles  II.  was  so  touched 


A  GA  VALIEE  OF  KING  CHARLES.       259 

\vhen  he  saw  this  memento  of  his  father  that  he  in- 
stantly granted  the  request.  It  is  very  possible 
however  that  the  five  hundred  pounds,  which  the 
Connecticut  Assembly  cannily  voted  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  presenting  the  petition,  were  so  tact- 
fully disbursed  as  to  aid  in  bringing  the  ring  and 
the  petition  to  the  King's  notice. 

Governor  "YVinthrop  returned  with  the  charter 
which  was  so  exultantly  displayed  to  the  dismayed 
Stuy  vesant,  with  the  bitter  information  that  their 
boundary  treaty  of  1650  was  only  so  much  waste 
paper ;  but  Winthrop  had  yet  to  learn  that  Charles 
II.  would  regard  his  royal  word,  and  the  charter  so 
sacredly  and  legally  attested  over  his  acknowledged 
signature,  as  equally  worthless. 

After  granting  the  territory  occupied  by  the 
Dutch  to  the  state  of  Connecticut,  the  King  with 
the  most  shameless  effrontery,  presented  the  same 
region  to  his  brother  the  Duke  of  York,  sending 
at  the  same  time  an  armed  fleet  to  maintain  his 
claim.  Thus  with  no  reason  or  apology  did  King 
Charles  twice  give  away  what  never  belonged  to 
him! 

The  Duke  of  York  sent  out  as  commander  of  the 
fleet  and  as  future  Governor  of  his  possession, 
Colonel  Kichard  Nicholls  and  as  Secretary  Matthias 
Nicoll  father  of  our  hero.  The  similarity  of  the 


260  ANNEKE. 

names  has  caused  much  confusion,  but  it  is  not 
probable  that  they  were  even  relatives. 

The  English  fleet  of  four  frigates  carrying  in  all 
ninety-four  guns,  arrived  at  Boston  in  July  and  re- 
mained there  several  weeks.  Colonel  JSTicholls  had 
instructions  to  visit  the  different  New  England 
Colonies  and  to  require  them  "  to  assist  vigorously 
in  reducing  the  Dutch  to  subjection." 

A  sloop  had  been  despatched  to  Plymouth  and  the 
different  towns  on  the  coast  and  on  the  Sound  with 
this  intelligence,  and  Willie  Nicoll  with  several  others 
were  assigned  to  this  duty.  On  the  way  the  sloop 
touched  at  Gardiner's  Island,  and  here  Willie,  to 
his  great  delight,  found  his  old  acquaintance,  Lion 
Gardiner. 

Gardiner,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  the  English 
military  engineer  who  had  married  and  resided  in 
Holland,  and  whom  Willie  had  been  deputed  so 
long  ago  to  engage  to  go  out  to  Connecticut  to 
build  Fort  Say  brook. 

Lion  Gardiner  had  much  to  tell  Willie  of  his  ex- 
periences in  the  new  world.  He  had  built  the  fort 
and  commanded  it  until  the  coming  of  Colonel  and 
Lady  Fenwick.  He  had  done  valiant  service  in  the 
terrible  Pequot  war,  and  had  finally  purchased  this 
island  from  the  Long  Island  Indians  for  "  one  gun, 
some  powder,  shot,  rum,  five  pounds'  worth  of  blank- 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       261 

ets,  and  a  black  dog."  Here  he  lived  with  his  wife 
and  three  children,  and  here  another  Lion  Gar- 
diner, the  twelfth  in  descent  from  the  original  lord 
of  the  manor,  still  lives.  Willie  and  his  companions 
were  entertained  at  his  hospitable  board,  and  dined 
toothsomely  on  fish  caught  in  his  own  waters  and 
on  venison  from  his  own  preserves. 

"Come  and  be  my  neighbor,  Nicoll,"  said  the 
host,  "  there  are  other  beautiful  islands  still  to  be 
purchased  of  the  Indians.  They  are  all  friendly  to 
me  here.  I  reign  as  a  little  king  over  the  Mon- 
taukets,  for  when  their  chief  died  he  made  me  the 
guardian  of  his  infant  son,  and  though  they  recog- 
nize the  regency  of  the  mother  as  *  Sachemsqua,' 
her  acts  are  only  valid  when  confirmed  by  me." 

As  they  were  talking  they  were  seated  on  the 
high  stoop  of  Gardiner's  log  house,  which  com- 
manded the  bay,  and  they  noticed  putting  out  from 
the  opposite  shore  a  little  fleet  of  Indian  canoes. 

Gardiner  handed  his  spyglass  to  Willie,  remark- 
ing :  "  We  are  to  have  visitors,  and  I  am  glad  that 
you  are  to  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  some  of 
our  aborigines." 

The  Indians  landing,  came  up  the  hill  in  single 
file.  They  were  headed  by  a  woman,  wearing  a 
robe  elaborately  embroidered  with  quills  and  beads, 
and  adorned  with  many  strings  of  wampum.  She 


262  ANNEKE. 

was  followed  by  a  boy  of  twelve,  nearly  naked,  and 
decorated  with  war  paint.  His  long  black  hair  was 
ornamented  with  eagle  feathers,  and  he  wore  silver 
bracelets  upon  his  arms.  He  carried  bows  and 
arrows  and  led  a  savage-looking  dog  by  a  leathern 
leash. 

"It  is  the  Sachemsqua  herself,  with  the  young 
prince,  Weoncombone,"  exclaimed  Gardiner,  "  and 
that  is  Mondugh,  sachem  of  the  Shinnecock  Indians, 
and  Mongtucksee  (Long  Knife),  and  Pomotork,  and 
Cawbut, — why  it  is  a  delegation  of  Long  Island 
chieftains  !  What  can  be  their  object  ?  " 

He  was  soon  to  be  informed.  Runners  from 
Uncas,  chief  of  the  Mohegans,  had  lately  visited  the 
Indians,  bringing  startling  news.  Uncas,  who 
prided  himself  on  being  the  friend  of  the  English, 
had  profited  by  their  alliance  in  the  extermination 
of  the  Pequots  and  the  subjugation  of  the  Narra- 
gansetts,  so  that  he  was  now  the  most  powerful 
chieftain  in  New  England.  The  other  tribes  were 
now  tributary  to  him,  and  there  were  none  that 
dared  withstand  him,  except  the  Iroquois  army  in 
the  west.  He  had  attempted  to  gain  their  friend- 
ship, representing  that  if  the  Iroquois  and  Mohe- 
gans should  unite  they  might  sweep  the  white  man 
from  the  continent.  But  the  Iroquois  had  remained 
faithful  to  the  Dutch,  though  some  of  the  Mohe- 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       263 

gans  had  killed  certain  Mohawks  and  had  endeav- 
ored to  persuade  the  Mohawks  that  the  Dutch  had 
murdered  them.  The  Mohawks  had  discovered  the 
real  perpetrators  of  the  crime  and  had  denounced 
Uncas  to  the  council  of  the  Iroquois,  and  his  over- 
tures had  been  spurned. 

So  there  had  been  desultory  war  between  the 
Mohegans  and  Mohawks,  only  restrained  by  their 
respective  allies,  the  English  and  the  Dutch. 

But  now,  Uncas  sent  word  to  his  vassals,  the 
great  hour  of  revenge  had  come.  Hostilities  were 
to  begin  between  the  whites.  He  had  just  returned 
from  a  visit  to  Boston,  and  had  seen  four  great  war 
canoes  laden  with  huge  guns  and  many  English 
braves.  The  word  to  take  the  tomahawk  had  been 
sent  to  all  the  English  towns,  and  the  English  would 
shortly  burn  and  pillage  New  Amsterdam  and  put 
every  Dutchman  to  the  sword.  Was  it  a  time  for 
the  Indian  allies  of  the  English  to  sit  calmly  in  their 
wigwams  smoking  the  pipe  of  peace  ?  Certainly 
not.  They  would  win  great  glory  and  praise  from 
the  English  by  cooperating  with  them  at  this  crit- 
ical juncture,  and  many  Mohawk  scalps  and  much 
Dutch  booty  for  themselves.  They  would  not  enter 
New  Amsterdam  with  the  English,  for  that  city 
contained  no  more  plunder  than  would  be  desired 
by  the  white  conquerors  ;  the  Indians  would  make 


264  ANNEKE. 

a  simultaneous  attack  on  Kensselaerswyck,  seize  the 
arms  stored  in  its  warehouse,  burn  the  town,  take 
the  fort  and  hold  it  against  the  Mohawks  until  Win- 
throp  came  up  the  river  to  help  them  chase  the 
Iroquois  far  into  the  western  wilderness,  and  re- 
ward the  Mohegans  for  their  prowess  by  the  gift  of 
their  lands. 

This  had  already  happened  in  their  wars  with  the 
Pequots.  Uncas  had  killed  Sasacus,  sachem  of  the 
Pequots,  a  better  man  than  himself,  and  had  brought 
his  bloody  head  to  the  English  at  the  point  now 
called  Sachem's  Head.  He  had  killed  Miantonomoh, 
chief  of  the  Narragansetts,  and  had  been  rewarded 
for  it.  The  news  which  he  now  sent  seemed  plausi- 
ble. The  sachems  of  the  Long  Island  Indians  had 
come  to  Lion  Gardiner  to  hear  it  confirmed,  and  then 
they  would  set  out  with  their  braves  to  join 
Uncas. 

Willie  was  horrified,  and  Gardiner  himself  turned 
pale ;  but  he  harangued  the  chiefs  eloquently,  not 
hesitating  to  call  Uncas  a  liar.  The  misunderstand- 
ing between  the  Dutch  and  English,  he  assured 
them,  would  be  settled  without  bloodshed  in  a 
grand  powwow.  Instead  of  gaining  the  approval 
of  the  English  they  would  bring  upon  themselves 
relentless  punishment  if  they  dared  to  attack  the 
Dutch.  White  men  were  brothers,  and  would  never 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       265 

suffer  Indians  to  attack  others  of  their  race,  much 
less  reward  them,  for  doing  so.  The  long  Island 
Sachems  received  Gardiner's  speech  with  grunts  of 
approval.  The  peace  pipe  was  passed  around  and 
presents  accepted  from  his  storehouse.  Some  of 
the  chiefs  had  their  own  opinion  of  the  ambitious 
Uncas,  and  were  pleased  when  they  understood  that 
he  was  in  a  fair  way  to  get  himself  into  trouble. 
They  would  return  to  their  own  fields  until  they 
were  wanted.  So  saying,  the  principal  speaker  led 
the  way  and  the  chiefs  followed  him  down  the  bank 
to  their  canoes. 

"  Stay,"  said  Gardiner  to  the  Sachemsqua. 
"  Where  was  the  rendezvous  where  you  were  to 
meet  Uncas  and  his  braves  ?  " 

"At  the  ruined  fort  of  Good  Hope  which  the 
Dutch  built  near  Hartford.  He  sent  us  one  of  his 
moccasins  that  we  might  follow  his  trail  if  we 
were  too  late  and  he  had  passed  on ;  and  he  prom- 
ised to  cut  signs  on  trees  that  we  might  surely 
know  that  we  were  on  the  trail." 

"  Give  me  the  moccasin.  Now  if  I  only  had  my 
dog  Pilot  which  I  sold  to  your  husband,  I  could 
track  Uncas  through  any  jungle." 

"  Pilot  has  been  dead  these  ten  years,"  replied 
the  Sachemsqua,  "  but,  Quaquasho  there  is  of  his 
blood.  The  name  signifies  Great  Hunter.  His 


266  ANNEKE. 

scent  is  finer  and  his  endurance  greater  than  Pilot's 
ever  was,  for  he  has  been  brought  up  by  Indians. 
Pilot  loved  his  ease,  but  Quaquasho  never  rests  and 
never  tires  till  he  brings  down  his  game." 

"  Lend  him  to  me,  good  Sachemsqua,  and  I  will 
bring  him  back  to  you  with  many  gifts.  There, 
your  son  shall  have  that  knife  of  mine  which  he  has 
been  fingering,  and  you  may  have  my  talking  clock. 
Take  this  key,  and  every  day  when  the  sun  sets 
turn  it  in  the  hole,  so,  and  the  spirit  in  the  box  will 
move  its  hands,  lifting  them  both  toward  the  sun 
at  the  hour  of  noon,  and  crying  out  twelve  times  to 
the  Great  Spirit,  and  so  counting  the  hours  for  you 
until  it  is  noon  again.  If  the  spirit  is  unruly  and 
will  not  obey,  do  you  bring  the  box  to  me  and  I 
will  correct  him." 

The  Sachemsqua  went  away  carrying  the  Dutch 
clock  in  triumph.  It  had  always  excited  her  won- 
der and  envy,  and  she  was  delighted  beyond  meas- 
ure to  possess  it. 

"  And  now,"  said  Gardiner,  "  as  you  are  by 
luck  on  your  way  to  Hartford,  you  must  take  me 
with  you.  The  wind  is  favorable ;  let  us  set  out  at 
once." 

They  sailed  across  the  Sound  to  Saybrook,  and 
then  as  the  wind  was  not  strong  enough  for  the 
sloop  to  make  much  headway  against  the  current, 


A  CA  V ALTER  OF  KING  CHARLES        267 

they  took  rowboats  with  oarsmen  and  mounted  the 
Connecticut  to  Hartford. 

At  this  point  Willie  obtained  permission  from  the 
young  officer  under  whose  command  he  had  been 
placed  to  detach  himself  from  despatch  duty  and 
proceed  with  Lion  Gardiner  on  his  mission  of  hold- 
ing the  Mohegans  in  check. 

They  went  first  to  the  old  Dutch  fort,  but  found 
it  forlornly  vacant.  The  Dutch  had  surrendered 
and  evacuated  it  several  years  previous,  and  it  had 
not  been  thought  worth  while  to  garrison  it. 

The  Mohegans  had  been  here  the  night  before 
and  had  passed  on. 

Gardiner  did  not  hesitate  for  a  moment.  Sum- 
moning to  his  aid  a  hardy  scout  who  now  resided 
in  Hartford,  but  who  had  served  him  during  the 
Pequot  war  and  had  explored  the  region  further 
than  any  white  man,  he  plunged  into  the  trackless 
wilderness  which  lay  between  Hartford  and  the 
Hudson.  This  man,  strange  to  say  was  a  Dutch- 
man named  Dirck  Van  Corlear,  a  relative  of  the 
agent  of  the  Yan  Kensselaers.  He  had  been  one  of 
the  little  garrison  stationed  at  the  Fort  of  Good 
Hope  under  Captain  Gyspert  Op  Dyck.  But  when 
the  Dutch  soldiers  had  evacuated  that  outpost  and 
marched  back  to  New  Amsterdam,  he  had  decided 
to  remain,  having  fallen  in  love  with  the  daughter 


268  ANN  EKE. 

of  one  of  the  New  England  settlers.  He  had  once 
made  the  trip  across  the  country  to  Rensselaers- 
wyck  to  see  his  relative,  and  was  known  by  the 
Yan  Rensselaers. 

Dirck  was  delighted  with  the  adventure,  and 
loading  themselves  with  provisions  and  ammunition, 
the  three  began  their  toilsome  journey.  There 
was  also  a  fourth  member  of  the  party  quite  as 
important  to  its  success.  Quaquasho,  the  hunter, 
had  been  led  to  the  block  from  which  Gardiner  felt 
sure  Uncas  had  harangued  his  braves,  the  keen- 
scented  animal  had  snuffed  the  footprints  and  the 
moccasin  in  Gardiner's  possession,  and  had  bounded 
joyfully  in  advance,  discovering  to  his  companions 
the  trail  of  the  Mohegans. 

For  six  days  they  followed  it  steadily.  It  led  in 
a  generally  northwesterly  direction  and  finally 
struck  the  Hudson  a  little  north  of  the  Dutch  settle- 
ment at  Claverack.  Here  for  the  first  time  they 
overtook  a  portion  of  the  war  party  which  had  been 
sent  by  Uncas  to  attack  the  settlers  at  Greenbush, 
while  he  fell  upon  those  near  Claverack.  Some  of 
these  warriors  were  very  fortunately  known  to 
Gardiner,  and  they  obeyed  him  when  he  ordered 
them  to  return  to  Uncas  and  to  forbid  his  commit- 
ting hostilities. 

The  scout  had  informed  Gardiner  of  the  situation 


A  CAVA  LIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       269 

of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer's  country  house,  The 
Crails,  near  Greenbush,  and  Willie  urged  his  friend 
to  proceed  in  that  direction  and  give  the  alarm, 
trusting  to  his  Indian  messenger  to  restrain  Uncas 
from  injuring  the  settlers  at  Claverack. 

As  it  happened,  a  spring  flood  had  destroyed  the 
manor-house  on  the  west  of  the  Hudson,  and  the  en- 
tire family  had  removed  temporarily  to  The  Crails, 
after  a  most  exciting  experience  and  the  loss  of 
many  household  treasures. 

Willie,  who  had  not  heard  of  the  death  of  his 
friend  Kiliaen,  braced  himself  for  another  meeting 
with  him  and  with  Anneke,  whom  he  expected  to 
find  a  happy  wife ;  and  it  was  with  many  mingled 
emotions  that  he  understood  the  mute  witness  of 
her  black  dress  and  widow's  cap. 

The  entire  family  were  standing  on  the  little  pier 
as  Willie  and  Gardiner  approached.  They  were 
waving  a  farewell  to  Governor  Stuyvesant,  who 
had  just  made  his  visit  and  was  crossing  in  his 
yacht  to  Fort  Orange.  They  had  signalled  for  the 
Goede  Yrouw,  which  lay  at  their  warehouse  on  the 
opposite  bank,  to  be  sent  over  to  The  Crails,  for  a 
young  Mohawk  had  brought  disquieting  rumors  of 
Mohegans  in  the  vicinity  and  they  had  decided  to 
remove  with  their  effects  to  Rensselaerstein.  They 
were  therefore  at  first  somewhat  alarmed  by  the 


270  ANNEXE. 

appearance  of  three  armed  strangers,  whose  worn 
clothing  showed  that  they  had  been  ranging  the 
woods  for  many  days,  and  one  of  whom  held  in 
leash  a  fierce  looking  dog.  But  Jeremias  Van  Rens- 
selaer  almost  immediately  recognized  Dirck  Yan 
Corlear,  and  when  Willie  raised  his  cavalier  hat, 
Anneke  met  his  gaze  and  extended  her  hand  in 
glad  surprise.  Gardiner  came  forward,  and  their 
errand  was  explained. 

"  Something  of  this  we  have  heard,"  said  Anneke, 
"  and  we  are  preparing  to  remove  ;  but  will  you  not 
dine  with  us  before  we  take  leave  of  The  Grails  ?  " 

"  Do  not  wait  to  extend  hospitality,"  Willie  re- 
plied, "  but  go  at  once,  and  give  the  alarm  at  Fort 
Orange.  We  will  stay  on  this  side  of  the  river  and 
guard  your  property  until  it  is  certain  that  the 
Mohegans  have  left  the  region." 

"  Your  advice  is  good,"  Jeremias  Yan  Rensselaer 
replied.  "We  must  see  Stuyvesant  before  he 
leaves  Fort  Orange  and  beg  him  not  to  withdraw 
the  garrison,  for  he  has  heard  some  wild  story  of 
an  attack  planned  on  New  Amsterdam  by  your 
government.  I  trust  you  can  assure  me  that  he 
has  no  cause  for  alarm." 

"  I  regret  to  confirm  the  news,"  Willie  replied, 
"  but  you  can  spare  him  no  aid  at  this  time,  and 
even  could  you  do  so  resistance  will  be  worse  than 


A  CA  VALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       271 

useless.  I  may  be  able  to  be  of  some  use  to  you  in 
that  quarter  later  on,  and  at  present  I  counsel  you 
to  protect  your  homes  from  the  savages." 

The  Van  Rensselaers  immediately  crossed  the 
river,  sending  back  a  few  Mohawks  to  defend  The 
Grails  under  Willie's  orders.  As  Gardiner  had  fore- 
seen, Uncas  was  not  dissuaded  from  continuing  his 
raid  by  the  message  received  through  his  warriors. 
His  scouts,  concealed  in  the  shrubbery,  had  watched 
and  reported  to  him  the  hasty  crossing  of  the  fam- 
ily and  a  few  hours  later  he  reached  The  Crails  with 
his  entire  band. 

Fortunately  the  reinforcing  Mohawks  had  just 
arrived,  and  finding  the  manor-house  defended  by  a 
strong  force,  Uncas  held  a  colloquy  with  Gardiner 
under  a  flag  of  truce,  and  was  persuaded  to  return 
with  his  braves  to  his  own  reservation.  In  the 
meantime  Stuyvesant,  much  alarmed  by  the  infor- 
mation brought,  hastily  returned  to  New  Amster- 
dam with  no  reinforcements  from  Rensselaerswyck. 
At  New  Amsterdam  every  able-bodied  man  was 
summoned  to  work  on  the  fortifications.  The 
brewers  were  forbidden  to  use  any  more  grain,  but 
to  send  it  into  the  fort.  But  while  Stuyvesant 
was  engaged  in  these  desperate  but  ineffectual 
preparations,  the  English  fleet  appeared  before  the 
city.  The  next  morning  Colonel  Nicholls  sent  a 


272  ANNEKE. 

summons  for  the  surrender  of  the  town.  He  made 
the  terms  as  lenient  as  possible,  assuring  the  Gov- 
ernor, "  I  shall  not  hinder  any  people  from  the 
Netherlands  to  freely  come  and  plant.  And  any  of 
them  may  as  freely  return  home ;  this  much  and 
more  is  contained  in  the  privilege  of  his  Majesty's 
English  subjects." 

Governor  Stuyvesant  in  his  anger  tore  this  com- 
munication to  atoms. 

The  rumor  spread  that  conditions  of  surrender 
had  been  received,  and  the  citizens  met  and  a  dele- 
gation was  sent  to  Stuyvesant  demanding  to  be  told 
what  they  were.  At  length  the  governor  sent  them 
the  fragments  of  the  letter.  They  were  pasted  to- 
gether and  read  to  the  citizens,  who  clamored  for 
surrender.  Still  Stuyvesant  would  not  yield;  he 
drew  up  and  sent  Colonel  Nicholls  a  strong  remon- 
strance, deducing  the  title  of  the  Dutch  from  the 
three  principles,  which  had  always  been  respected 
by  civilized  nations,  "  Discovery,  Settlement  and 
Purchase  from  the  Indians,"  and,  concluding,  said  : 
"  In  case  you  act  by  force  of  arms  we  protest  before 
God  and  man  that  you  will  perform  an  act  of  un- 
just violence.  You  will  violate  the  articles  of  peace 
solemnly  ratified  by  his  Majesty  of  England  and 
my  Lords  the  States  General." 

Colonel  Mcholls  could  only  obey  his  orders,  and 


A  CAVALIER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       273 

he  sent  an  imperious  demand,  "  Hoist  the  white  flag 
of  surrender,"  refusing  to  listen  to  further  parley 
until  this  was  done. 

The  citizens  were  in  the  greatest  consternation, 
fearing  immediate  bombardment,  and,  assembling 
in  the  city  hall,  they  drew  up  and  presented  to 
their  valiant  governor  and  his  council  an  appeal 
from  which  we  quote  a  few  paragraphs. 

"  Eight  Honorable : 

"  We,  your  sorrowful  subjects,  beg  to 
represent,  in  these  sad  circumstances  that  we  cannot 
foresee  for  this  fort  and  city  in  further  resistance 
aught  else  than  misery,  sorrow  and  conflagration, 
in  a  word  the  ruin  of  fifteen  hundred  innocent 
souls,  only  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  whom  are 
capable  of  bearing  arms. 

"  You  are  aware  that  four  of  the  English  King's 
frigates  are  now  in  the  roadstead,  with  six  hundred 
soldiers  on  board.  They  have  also  commissions  to 
all  the  governors  of  New  England,  a  populous  coun- 
try to  impress  troops. 

"These  threats  we  would  not  have  regarded, 
could  we  expect  the  smallest  aid.  But,  God  help 
us,  where  shall  we  turn  for  assistance,  to  the  north  or 
to  the  south,  to  the  east  or  to  the  west  ?  On  all  sides 
we  are  encompassed  and  hemmed  in  by  our  enemies. 


274  ANN  EKE. 

"  We  shall  now  examine  your  Honors'  fortress, — 
it  cannot  against  so  powerful  an  enemy  save  the 
smallest  portion  of  our  entire  city,  our  property, 
and  what  is  dearer  to  us,  our  wives  and  children, 
from  total  ruin. 

"  Wherefore  in  bitterness  of  heart  we  humbly  im- 
plore your  Honors  not  to  reject  the  conditions  of  so 
generous  a  foe,  but  be  pleased  to  meet  him  in  the 
speediest  and  most  reputable  manner.  Otherwise, 
which  God  forbid,  we  are  obliged  to  protest  before 
God  and  the  world ;  and  to  call  down  upon  your 
Honors  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  for  all  the  inno- 
cent blood  which  shall  be  shed  in  consequence  of 
your  Honors'  obstinacy. 

"  We  feel  certain  that  your  Honors  will  conclude 
with  God's  help  an  honorable  and  reasonable  ca- 
pitulation. May  the  Lord  our  God  be  pleased  to 
grant  this  to  us.  Amen." 

This  petition  was  signed  by  ninety-four  prominent 
citizens  and  among  them  by  Stuyvesant's  own  son. 

Under  these  circumstances  Stuy vesant  was  forced 
to  yield,  protesting  as  he  did  so — "  I  would  rather 
be  carried  to  my  grave." 

"  Thus,"  says  one  historian,  "  was  fitly  consum- 
mated an  act  of  spoliation,  which  in  a  period  of 
profound  peace,  wrested  this  province  from  the 


A  CA  V ALTER  OF  KING  CHARLES.       275 

rightful  owners,  by  violating  all  public  justice  and 
infringing  all  public  law.  The  only  additional  out- 
rage that  remained  was  to  impose  on  the  country 
the  name  of  one  unknown  in  history  save  as  the 
enemy  of  religious  and  political  freedom  wherever 
he  ruled.  New  Netherland  was  accordingly  called 
New  York." 

It  must,  however,  be  conceded  that  the  new  gov- 
ernor, Richard  Nicholls,  performed  this  ungracious 
act  without  bloodshed  or  the  spoliation  of  private 
individuals,  and  with  as  little  harshness  as  was  pos- 
sible. He  confiscated  all  of  the  property  of  the  "West 
India  Company,  which  visited  its  resentment  on  its 
unfortunate  director,  reprimanding  Stuyvesant  and 
calling  him  to  Holland  to  answer  for  his  surrender. 
In  this  sore  need,  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  took  his 
part,  arguing  his  case  so  ably  before  the  company 
that  he  was  triumphantly  vindicated. 

Governor  Stuyvesant  returned  to  New  York,  liv- 
ing quietly  for  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  his 
bowery  which  extended  from  Third  Avenue  to 
East  River,  and  from  Sixth  to  Sixteenth  Streets. 
Stuyvesant  Square  occupies  a  small  portion  of  the 
original  farm,  and  fittingly  commemorates  his 
name. 

Little  more  remains  to  be  told.  As  soon  as  the 
absolute  security  of  Rensselaerswyck  was  estab- 


276  ANN  EKE. 

lished,  Willie  Nicoll  repaired  to  New  Amsterdam, 
where,  exchanging  the  cavalier  name  of  Willie  for 
the  more  dignified  one  of  William,  his  authentic 
career  may  be  traced  in  the  early  history  of  the 
colony  through  a  long  life  of  honor  and  distinction. 

He  bought  an  extensive  estate  on  Long  Island, 
naming  it  Islip  from  his  ancestral  home  in  England, 
and  later  he  became  a  neighbor  during  the  summer 
months  of  his  friend  Lion  Gardiner,  purchasing  the 
larger  part  of  beautiful  Shelter  Island. 

There  could  be  but  one  ending  to  such  a  story  of 
untiring  devotion,  and  one  day  his  long  patience 
had  its  reward.  On  a  winter  morning,  as  he  was 
looking  from  his  law  office  in  New  York  across  the 
Bowling  Green,  he  saw  tripping  briskly  along  in 
front  of  the  quaint  stepped-gabled  houses, — who 
but  Dame  Anneke  Van  Rensselaer.  Snatching  his 
hat,  he  joined  her  in  her  walk  along  the  Battery 
and  inquired  what  happy  chance  had  brought  her 
from  Eensselaerswyck. 

"  It  is  not  altogether  a  happy  circumstance,"  she 
replied.  "  Kiliaen  enjoined  upon  me  that  I  should  not 
desert  the  manor  until  I  heard  that  Frontenac  was 
Governor  of  Canada." 

"  And  he  has  been  sent  out  by  King  Louis,"  Wil- 
lie exclaimed,  "  but  surely  there  is  no  possibility  of 
French  invasion." 


A  C AVAL  IE R  OF  KING  CHARLES.       277 

"  We  have  had  a  mysterious  warning  sent  by  a 
Jesuit  missionary,  who  states  that  Father  Jogues 
made  him  swear  to  send  us  word  if  we  were  in 
danger — and  so  my  father  has  thought  best  that 
my  mother  and  I  should  spend  the  winter  in  the 
city." 

A  great  joy  flamed  in  William  Nicoll's  face. 
"  Let  me  be  your  protector,  Anneke.  I  have  waited 
long.  I  have  no  pearls  with  which  to  fill  your 
apron — to  make  you  believe  me — but 

"  Flowers  will  do  as  well,"  Anneke  replied,  coyly. 

"  Does  that  mean,  my  darling,  that  when  spring 
comes  and  I  can  fill  your  apron  with  flowers  you 
will  be  mine  ?  " 

"  You  need  not  wait  for  spring,  Willie,"  Anneke 
replied,  making  a  bewitching  courtesy  and  in  the 
act  spreading  her  pretty  embroidered  apron  with 
both  hands.  Instantly  he  realized  that  she  no 
longer  wore  widow's  weeds,  that  her  little  fur-bor- 
dered velvet  cape  and  hood  matched  the  pale  sap- 
phire blue  of  her  eyes,  that  her  apron  was  bordered 
with  marguerites  and  other  flowers  of  her  own 
dainty  stitchery,  and  that  flowers  of  love  could 
blossom  in  winter  as  well  as  in  spring. 


CHAPTEK  XIY. 


FRANCE   TAKES   A   HAND. 

The  red  tiled  towers  of  the  old  chateau 
Perched  on  the  cliff  above  our  bark, 
Burn  in  the  western  evening  glow. 
The  fiery  spirit  of  Papineau 
Consumes  them  still  with  its  fever  spark 
The  red  tiled  towers  of  the  old  chateau  ! 

— S.  Frances  Harrison. 

JFE,  for  Anneke   and  Wil- 
liam   Mcoll,   did    not 
lose  its  zest  of  adven- 
ture   with     marriage. 
They  were  destined  to 
pass  through  thrilling 
scenes,  to  suffer   cruel 
anxiety    and    alterna- 
tions of  hopes  and  fears,  to  do 
valiant  work  and  true  as  pio- 
neers   in   the   new   world    to 

their  latest  day. 

The  early  records  of  New  York  are  silent  in  re- 
gard to  the  youthful  adventures  of  Willie  .Nicoll ; 
but  they  have  much  to  say  of  the  honorable  career 

278 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  279 

of  one  William  Nicoll,  who  never  hesitated  to 
champion  the  right.  They  tell  how  resolutely  he 
combatted  Governor  Leisler,  suffering  imprisonment 
for  so  doing ;  but  that  later  in  life  he  loyally  sup- 
ported the  cause  of  William  and  Mary,  true  to  his 
early  friendship  for  the  father  of  the  young  king ; 
how  fearlessly  he  defended  those  who  were  perse- 
cuted for  their  religious  opinions  ;  and  how,  in  spite 
of  never  hesitating  to  take  the  unpopular  side,  he 
won  his  place  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-men. 
For  twenty-one  years  in  succession  he  was  elected  to 
the  Assembly  of  New  York,  and  for  sixteen  he  was 
as  regularly  chosen  by  the  House  as  its  speaker, 
until  he  firmly  declined  the  honor. 

Better  than  his  town-house  or  his  great  estate  at 
Islip  he  loved  beautiful  Shelter  Island,  where  he 
built  a  comfortable  mansion,  and  lived  in  friend- 
ship with  the  Indians  and  neighboring  settlers. 
The  Gardiners  were  near  at  hand,  and  were  often 
visited  in  the  swift  sailing  yacht  which  carried  the 
Nicoll  family  to  and  from  New  York,  to  the  towns 
of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  and  once  a  year 
up  the  Hudson  to  Rensselaerswyck. 

One  day  a  strange,  dark  craft  anchored  at  their 
little  wharf,  and  a  burly  man,  richly  but  flashily 
dressed  in  a  suit  of  crimson  velvet  embroidered 
with  gold,  strode  up  the  hill  to  the  open  door, 


280  ANNEKE. 

where  William  Nicoll  stood  regarding  him  with  a 
haunting  feeling  of  familiarity. 

"  Ahoy  !  there,  Willie  Nicoll,  where  are  your  sig- 
nals of  welcome  for  an  old  ship-mate  ?  "  roared  a 
stentorian  voice,  and  for  the  sake  of  many  kind- 
nesses William  Nicoll  gave  the  old  pirate  a  cordial 
greeting. 

"  I  trust,  Captain  Morgan,"  he  said,  as  they  sat  at 
table,  "  that  your  errand  in  our  northern  waters  is 
a  peaceful  one ;  otherwise,  I  tell  you  plainly  that  I 
shall  feel  obliged  to  alarm  the  coast." 

"  Sturdily  said,  Willie,  and  like  your  old  self,  but 
how  if  I  shot  you  through  the  heart  before  you 
could  give  the  alarm  ?  " 

"A  signal  is  already  flying,  Captain  Morgan, 
which  will  call  an  English  ship  of  the  line  now  at 
anchorage  at  Gardiner's  Island.  She  will  arrive  in 
an  hour,  and,  unless  I  fly  another  signal  that  all  is 
well,  will  give  you  chase.  You  may  kill  me  if  you 
like,  but  you  will  have  to  answer  for  it,  and  that 
very  speedily." 

"  Clever  as  ever,  Willie,  and  I  did  but  jest.  Let 
the  ship  come.  I  shall  be  glad  to  meet  its  officers, 
for  since  I  helped  Admiral  Penn  take  Jamaica  from 
the  Spaniards,  I  have  abandoned  my  old  trade. 
Not  only  that,  but, — prepare  to  be  astonished, 
Willie, — I  am  returning  from  a  visit  to  England, 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  281 

where  I  made  such  good  employ  of  that  calabash 
of  pearls  taken  at  Margarita  that  I  have  been 
knighted  by  his  Majesty  King  Charles,  and  have  a 
commission  as  Governor  of  Jamaica !  Ha !  ha ! 
"Willie,  no  wonder  your  eyes  bulge  out ;  read  that, 
my  boy, — '  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  Governor  of  our 
colony  ! '  What  do  you  say  to  that,  lad  ?  And  you 
might  have  had  those  pearls  and  these  honors,  but 
you  preferred  to  land  a  parcel  of  niggers  where  they 
could  not  maintain  themselves  and  were  speedily 
taken  by  the  Spaniards,  falling  after  that  into  my 
hands,  I  selling  them  in  turn  to  the  Dutch,  pre- 
cisely as  I  would  have  done  at  first,  had  you  taken 
the  pearls.  Say  frankly,  man,  that  you  repent  your 
choice,  and  see  no  gain  in  your  fine  notions  of 
honor." 

"No,  Captain  Morgan.  Though  I  admit  that 
my  good  intentions  were  productive  of  no  good  for 
the  negroes,  that  possibly  they  are  as  well  off  phys- 
ically as  slaves  of  the  Dutch  as  in  their  half  savage 
condition  in  the  mountains  of  Jamaica,  still  slavery 
is  degradation,  and  I  hold  no  man  has  a  right  to  in- 
flict it  on  his  fellows.  Moreover,  you  forget  the 
peculiar  situation.  These  people  had  been  prom- 
ised that  in  return  for  their  services,  and  for  the 
gift  of  those  pearls,  they  would  be  safely  landed  in 
Jamaica.  I  judge  no  man,  but  it  is  a  whim  of  mine 


282  ANNEKE. 

to  keep  my  word,  and  I  would  not  change  my 
memories  for  yours,  not  to  be  Sir  Knight  and  Gov- 
ernor of  all  the  Indies." 

"  You  were  always  a  fool,  Willie  Nicoll,  and  I 
have  taken  more  impudence  from  you  than  from 
any  man  living.  Let  me  tell  you  that  the  King 
himself  does  not  scruple  to  break  his  word." 

"  I  know  it,"  the  other  replied  sadly,  "  and  for 
that  reason  if  for  no  other,  Sir  Henry  and  Governor 
Morgan,  you  may  find  that  you  have  not  made  so 
good  a  bargain  as  you  think.  Still,  since  I  must 
believe  the  credentials  which  you  show  me,  I  can 
only  hope  that  you  have  reformed,  and  I  will  run 
up  the  signals  of  which  I  spoke,  which  will  assure 
the  Captain  of  the  frigate  which  you  see  approach- 
ing that  I  have  summoned  him  simply  to  meet  you 
socially." 

Morgan  took  the  spyglass  which  his  host  handed 
him  and  regarded  the  ship  thoughtfully.  "  Thankee 
kindly,  Willie,"  he  said,  "  but  if  my  men  have  got 
on  board  the  water  and  provisions  you  were  so  kind 
as  to  give  me,  I'll  not  wait  to  meet  your  friend  ; 
though  I  believe  in  your  good  faith.  I'm  sorry 
your  wife  is  in  New  York.  I  would  have  liked  to 
meet  her,  though  you  didn't  invite  me  to  your 
wedding,  my  boy.  Harkee,  Willie,  you  may  find 
worse  friends  and  worse  pirates  than  Henry 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  283 

Morgan.  I'll  give  you  a  word  of  warning  before 
I  go.  I  have  learned,  no  matter  how,  that  the 
French  have  a  plan  of  taking  New  York.  They 
are  sly  cats,  the  French.  Do  you  remember  how 
they  burned  my  home  at  Tortuga,  and  killed  my 
servants  ?  Well,  I  have  found  out  that  that  wretch, 
the  Frenchman  Lollonois,  had  a  hand  in  that  enter- 
prise. He  who  was  my  comrade  against  the  Span- 
iards !  I  will  give  him  good  entertainment  if  ever 
he  comes  to  Port  Royal.  Fare  ye  well,  Willie ;  mind 
my  words,  look  out  for  the  French,  and  if  things 
don't  turn  out  here  to  suit  you,  come  to  Jamaica.  I 
would  like  to  leave  a  present  for  your  good  lady,  a 
bracelet  of  the  pearls  of  Margarita,  just  a  handful 
that  I  chose  out  before  the  rest  went  to  the  King. 
You  shake  your  head.  Very  well,  I  might  have 
known  better  than  to  offer  it  if  I  had  remembered 
my  Scripture  lessons  as  a  boy — 'Cast  not  your 
pearls  before  swine ' — Eh !  Willie,  that  was  not  so 
bad  a  turn  for  old  Morgan." 

He  shouted  this  last  shot  as  his  men  pulled  him 
out  to  the  Black  Lady,  whose  sails  were  being  set 
even  before  the  boat  came  alongside.  William 
Nicoll  waited  on  the  wharf  to  explain  the  situation 
to  the  officers  of  the  frigate,  which  glided  in  as 
Morgan's  ship  scudded  away ;  but  as  the  ex-pirate 
had  committed  no  depredations,  and  William  Nicoll 


284  ANNEXE. 

assured  the  officers  that  his  commission  from  King 
Charles  appeared  genuine,  no  chase  was  given.  Such 
a  visit  was  not  a  phenomenal  occurrence.  Later, 
Captain  Kidd  came  to  Gardiner's  Island,  and  left  a 
rich  cache  of  his  ill  gotten  gains  in  the  care  of 
descendants  of  Lion  Gardiner,  who  honestly  gave 
them  up  to  the  authorities  on  the  conviction  of 
Kidd.  Others  were  not  so  conscientious,  and  Fiske 
writes  : 

"  The  streets  of  New  York  might  have  re- 
minded one  of  Teheran  or  Bassora,  with  their 
shops  displaying  rugs  of  Anatolia  or  Daghestan, 
tables  of  carved  teak  wood,  vases  of  hammered 
brass  and  silver,  Bagdad  portieres,  fans  of  ivory  or 
sandal  wood,  soft  shawls  of  myriad  gorgeous  hues, 
and  of  white  crape,  daintily  embroidered,  along 
with  exquisite  ornaments  of  ruby,  pearl  and  emer- 
ald. In  the  little  town  which  had  been  wont  to  eke 
out  its  slender  currency  with  wampum,  strange 
pieces  of  gold  and  silver  now  passed  freely  from 
hand  to  hand ;  Greek  byzants,  Arabian  dinars,  and 
mohurs  from  Hindustan,  along  with  Spanish  doub- 
loons and  the  louis  d'or  of  France." 

The  same  author  tells  most  graphically  the  fate 
of  the  pirate  city  of  Port  Royal,  Jamaica,  "  which 
united  to  more  than  royal  opulence  the  worst  vices 
which  ever  disgraced  a  seaport.  But  a  terrible 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  285 

retribution  seemed  to  await  the  sinful  city  of  the 
sand  spit.  On  the  7th  of  June,  1692,  at  noon,  while 
the  assembly  was  in  session,  and  the  populace  occu- 
pied as  usual  with  their  schemes  of  money -getting, 
or  squandering  their  gains  in  revelry — while  the 
waters  glittered  in  the  tropic  sun  and  the  summer 
air  was  filled  with  a  placid  calm,  there  came  a  sud- 
den roar,  followed  by  a  dreadful  rumbling  as  if  the 
mountains  were  shaken  by  a  tremendous  explosion, 
and  before  the  startled  citizens  could  gather  their 
wits  together  an  earthquake  of  awful  energy  rolled 
through  the  depths  under  their  feet.  When  the 
tumult  was  over,  a  frigate  had  been  hurled  over  the 
houses  and  landed  high  and  dry,  and  the  houses 
were  submerged  beneath  the  waves,  where  some  of 
them  remained  visible  for  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years." 

Three  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  had  been 
killed,  but  Governor  Henry  Morgan  was  not  among 
the  number.  His  perfidious  monarch  had  found  it 
advisable  to  curry  favor  with  Spain,  and  nine  years 
before  the  destruction  of  Port  Royal,  Charles  II. 
had  recalled  his  accomplice  to  England  to  answer 
for  his  depredations  upon  the  Spaniards,  and  to  die 
in  the  Tower  of  London  for  the  very  deeds  for 
which  he  had  been  knighted. 

After  Morgan's  visit,  William  Nicoll  gave  serious 


286  ANNEXE. 

thought  to  his  warning  in  regard  to  a  French  inva- 
sion. It  was  not  the  only  one  which  had  come  to 
the  colony.  The  Jesuit,  Jogues,  had  told  the  Van 
Rensselaers  to  beware  of  the  time  when  the  Comte 
de  Frontenac  should  come  into  power  in  Canada. 
Before  the  Dutch  settled  at  Rensselaers wyck, 
Champlain  had  discovered  the  lake  which  bears  his 
name  and  had  claimed  the  state  of  New  York  for 
the  French ;  but  Champlain  had  attacked  the 
Mohawks  and  had  kindled  their  hostility  against 
the  French  and  no  subsequent  efforts  of  the  Jesuit 
missionaries  had  been  able  to  correct  that  fatal  mis- 
take and  to  seduce  them  from  their  allegiance  to 
the  Dutch. 

Still,  was  it  not  possible  that  the  Indians  might 
not  feel  the  same  devotion  to  the  English  or  that 
the  French  might  attempt  to  take  by  force  what 
they  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  by  treaty  ?  "Wil- 
liam Mcoll  determined  to  make  a  visit  to  Rensse- 
laerswyck  and  even  to  penetrate  into  the  Mohawk 
country  to  learn  the  feeling  of  the  Iroquois  and 
whether  there  had  been  any  signs  of  French 
aggression. 

On  the  way  he  confided  his  fears  to  the  Assembly 
at  New  York,  and  found  that  they  had  lately  re- 
ceived a  communication  of  a  disquieting  nature 
from  a  Frenchman  named  de  Fontenay,  who  had 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  BAND.  28T 

settled  at  Schenectady.  He  had  written  them  that 
certain  suspicious  characters  had  visited  this  frontier 
town.  They  had  professed  to  be  Canadian  cour- 
reurs  de  lois  (hunters),  interested  in  securing  a 
market  for  their  peltries ;  but  they  had  been  far  too 
curious  in  their  examination  of  the  defences  of  the 
town,  and  he  had  other  reasons  for  believing  them 
to  be  spies. 

In  view  of  these  alarms  the  Assembly  approved 
of  Nicoll's  decision  to  proceed  to  Kensselaerswyck 
and  the  western  settlements,  and  urged  him,  in  case 
the  result  of  his  investigation  justified  such  action,  to 
sail  at  once  for  England,  to  lay  the  matter  before 
the  crown  and  ask  for  funds  for  the  defence  of  the 
colony. 

William  Nicoll  was  already  acquainted  with 
Monsieur  de  Fontenay,  and  felt  that  he  would  not 
have  sent  such  a  warning  without  sufficient  reason, 
for  he  was  a  man  of  intrepid  courage  and  sound 
judgment,  a  Huguenot  emigre,  who  had  suffered 
persecution  for  his  religion  in  France,  and  had  found 
a  refuge  with  his  family  in  America.  De  Fontenay 
had  explained  that  his  choice  of  this  particular 
locality  had  come  about  through  Father  Jogues, 
who  after  his  return  to  France  had  spoken  grate- 
fully of  the  succor  which  he  had  received  from 
Protestants  at  Rensselaerswyck.  The  fame  of  this 


288  ANNEKE. 

kindly  action  on  the  part  of  people  whom  they  had 
been  taught  to  consider  their  enemies  had  passed 
from  one  Catholic  to  another  until  it  had  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  Huguenots,  and  when  obliged 
to  leave  their  homes  many  sought  asylum  in 
America. 

A  warm  friendship  had  sprung  up  between  the 
de  Fontenays  and  the  Van  Rensselaers.  Though 
the  French  exiles  made  no  pretensions,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  they  were  of  gentle  birth  and  breeding. 
The  head  of  the  family  had  not  been  accustomed  to 
manual  labor,  and  he  gave  French  lessons  for  a  time 
in  Rensselaerswyck,  attempting  also  to  obtain  pupils 
in  fencing  and  in  music.  Later  the  family  had  re- 
moved to  the  neighborhood  of  the  new  settlement 
of  Schenectady,  obtaining  a  tract  of  land  and  build- 
ing a  rude  habitation  which  Monsieur  de  Fontenay 
called  his  hunting-lodge.  He  had  been  accustomed 
in  his  youth  to  woodland  sports,  and  he  adapted 
himself  to  the  hardy  life  of  a  hunter.  Anneke  had 
visited  them  in  their  pioneer  home,  for  the  daughter 
of  the  house,  Yvonne  de  Fontenay  was  her  dearest 
friend,  and  the  interruption  of  their  intercourse  had 
been  her  chief  regret  in  leaving  Rensselaerswyck. 

The  de  Fontenays  greeted  William  Nicoll  with 
the  utmost  cordiality,  and,  in  explaining  the  imme- 
diate cause  for  alarm,  Fran£ois  de  Fontenay  con- 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  289 

nected  the  visit  of  the  mysterious  strangers  with  an 
episode  in  his  own  early  life. 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe,"  he  confided,  "  that  ray 
banishment  from  France  was  not  due  to  my  reli- 
gious opinions,  but  because  I  was  so  unfortunate  as 
to  incur  the  hatred  of  Madame  de  Montespan,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  Comte  de  Frontenac,  who 
was  at  one  time  my  friend  and  companion  in 
arms. 

"  It  came  about  in  this  wise.  Louis  XIV.  was  at 
Oiron,  the  chateau  which  he  gave  to  Madame  de 
Montespan.  My  own  home  was  not  far  distant, 
and  I  was  among  those  Avho  were  honored  by  an 
invitation  to  one  of  the  festivities  given  to  celebrate 
the  royal  visit.  A  most  unfortunate  honor  it  was 
for  me.  De  Frontenac  was  also  present,  apparently 
in  high  favor  with  the  King.  It  was  he  who  pre- 
sented me  to  his  Majesty.  The  King  presently  took 
my  arm,  and  leading  me  out  upon  the  terrace  under 
pretence  of  asking  me  to  admire  the  gardens  con- 
structed by  his  own  landscape  architect,  Le  Notre, 
asked  me  several  questions  in  regard  to  de  Fronte- 
nac. I  praised  his  ability  as  a  soldier,  his  courage 
and  persistency  in  any  enterprise  which  he  might 
attempt,  and  assured  the  King  of  his  audacity  and 
wonderful  success  in  the  most  ambitious  and  impos- 
sible ventures.  I  meant  all  that  I  said  in  kindness, 


290  ANN  EKE. 

but  the  King  listened  with  a  strange  expression 
which  I  did  not  at  first  fathom. 

" '  Be  asssured,'  he  said,  '  that  I  will  remember 
what  you  have  said,  and  will  advance  your  friend 
to  a  position  where  he  can  find  full  scope  for  these 
admirable  qualities.' 

"  He  was  about  to  say  more,  when  Madame  de 
Montespan  joined  us.  Just  where  she  came  from  I 
could  not  say.  She  appeared  to  rise  from  the 
ground,  and  it  occurred  to  me  that  she  must  have 
stepped  from  behind  the  hedge  which  formed  the 
bosquet  in  which  we  were  standing.  She  led  the 
King  away,  hissing  the  word  '  serpent,'  as  she  passed 
me,  and  accompanying  it  with  a  look  of  rage  which 
I  shall  remember  to  my  dying  day. 

"  As  the  King  bade  me  farewell,  he  asked  me  par- 
ticularly where  I  lived,  and  said  that  I  should  hear 
from  him  again.  I  thought  that  I  had  secured  his 
favor,  but  only  misfortune  came  from  the  inter- 
view. 

"  Shortly  after  my  return  to  my  home  I  received 
a  letter  from  de  Frontenac  telling  me  of  his  appoint- 
ment as  Governor  of  Canada.  It  was  couched  in 
careful  terms,  which  to  the  casual  reader  would 
have  conveyed  no  double  meaning,  but  to  me  the 
concluding  sentence  seemed  a  threat.  '  I  well 
know,'  he  wrote,  '  to  whom  I  owe  this  honor,  and 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  291 

were  it  not  that  my  immediate  departure  deprives 
me  of  the  pleasure,  I  would  seek  you  out  and  show 
you  that  your  friend  knows  how  to  requite  such 
favors.  Be  assured,  however,  that  your  kindness 
will  not  remain  unrewarded.  I  leave  to  a  faithful 
friend  the  duty  of  recompensing  you  as  you  de- 
serve.' 

"This  menace  was  followed  by  a  warning,  a 
friendly  letter  informing  me  that  orders  had  been 
issued  to  a  troop  of  soldiers  to  arrest  me  on  account 
of  my  Calvinistic  opinions,  to  confiscate  my  prop- 
erty and  to  place  my  daughter  in  a  convent  to  be 
educated  in  the  Catholic  faith.  I  was  thunder- 
struck, for  this  was  before  the  Revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes,  and  Protestants,  though  hated, 
were  nominally  tolerated.  I  could  not  discredit  the 
warning,  for  it  came  from  the  officer  to  whom  the 
order  for  my  arrest  had  been  given.  '  I  shall  per- 
form my  duty  to-morrow,'  he  wrote,  '  if  I  find  you 
and  your  family  at  your  home.  I  send  you  this  in- 
formation in  order  that  you  may  escape.' 

"  My  wife  begged  me  to  flee,  and  I  determined  to 
take  her  and  my  daughter  to  friends  at  La  Rochelle, 
leaving  a  faithful  servant  to  notify  me  of  whatever 
occurred. 

"  He  brought  me  the  news  that  we  had  hardly 
escaped  before  a  band  of  disorderly  soldiers  took 


292  ANNEXE. 

possession  of  our  home,  carrying  away  or  destroy- 
ing everything  which  they  could  lay  their  hands 
upon,  burning  the  outbuildings  and  leaving  the 
chateau  itself  in  flames.  The  servants  had  rallied 
and  put  out  the  fire  after  the  departure  of  the  sol- 
diers, but  only  roofless  walls  remained. 

"  The  officer  in  command  had  said  to  him  :  '  Your 
master  is  fortunate  in  having  escaped,  but  tell  him 
for  me  never  to  return,  but  to  put  the  ocean  be- 
tween him  and  France,  for  the  King  has  long  arms.' 

"  I  took  the  advice,  given  apparently  in  friendship, 
and  came  to  America,  but  I  have  since  thought  that 
I  made  a  mistake  in  doing  so.  I  believe  that 
Madame  de  Montespan  was  the  friend  of  whom  de 
Frontenac  wrote,  that  they  thought  me  responsible 
for  his  banishment,  that  she  feared  as  well  as  hated 
me,  that  the  destruction  of  my  property  and  the 
warning  to  flee  came  from  her,  and  that  in  leaving 
the  country  I  did  exactly  what  she  most  desired." 

"  It  was  doubtless  all  for  the  best,  Franfois," 
said  Madame  de  Fontenay,  "for  we  could  hardly 
have  escaped  further  persecution  after  the  Revoca- 
tion of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  Think  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  our  friends  the  De  Lanceys,  who  are 
in  ignorance  even  now  as  so  whether  their  son  is 
living,  or  if  living  whether  he  may  not  have  con- 
formed to  the  Catholic  faith." 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  293 

"  Etienne  would  die  rather  than  do  that,"  said 
Yvonne. 

Francois  de  Fontenay  bowed  his  head,  "  I  fear 
we  must  give  up  hope  of  ever  seeing  that  noble 
youth  again,"  he  said  gravely.  "  We  have  now  to 
consider  whether  we  are  ourselves  out  of  danger. 
I  have  not  yet  told  Mr.  Nicoll  the  circumstance 
which  convinced  me  that  the  pretended  trappers 
who  visited  us  a  few  days  since  were  spies. 

"  I  recognized  one  of  them  as  the  body-servant  of 
the  Comte  de  Frontenac.  I  saw  him  last  when  he 
held  his  master's  horse  at  the  gate  of  Madame  de 
Montespan's  Chateau  of  Oiron  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  fete." 

"  Are  you  certain  of  this  ? "  William  Nicoll 
asked. 

"  Perfectly,  for  I  knew  the  man  as  well  as  I  did 
his  master.  He  had  unusual  cunning  of  a  low 
type,  and  de  Frontenac  trusted  him.  He  had 
changed  in  the  years  that  have  intervened,  but  not 
past  recognition.  What  is  quite  as  alarming  is  the 
fact  that  I  am  certain  that  he  recognized  me." 

"  Then,  Fran£ois,  we  are  no  longer  safe  here,"  ex- 
claimed Madame  de  Fontenay. 

"I  will  make  you  so,"  William  Nicoll  replied. 
"  I  will  see  the  chief  of  the  Mohawks,  who  will  call 
a  council  of  the  other  tribes  of  the  Iroquois,  You 


294  ANNEKE. 

will  be  as  safe  as  though  you  were  surrounded  by  a 
civilized  army.  Besides,  the  French  will  attempt 
no  incursion  in  winter.  I  leave  shortly  for  Eng- 
land, and  shall  return  with  ordnance,  guns  and 
ammunition  to  fortify  our  towns  and  equip  our 
militia.  I  will  see  that  a  captain's  commission  is  sent 
you,  Monsieur  de  Fontenay,  before  my  departure, 
and  you  will  at  once  begin  drilling  your  townspeo- 
ple. If  you  are  alarmed,  let  me  take  Madame  and 
Mademoiselle  Fontenay  to  my  home  and  leave 
them  in  the  care  of  my  wife." 

Madame  Fontenay  declined  the  offer,  saying 
that  her  post  was  at  her  husband's  side,  but  on 
"William  Nicoll's  pressing  the  invitation,  and  assur- 
ing the  family  that  it  would  be  a  kindness  to 
Anneke  in  his  absence,  Yvonne  returned  with  him 
to  visit  her  friend. 

Just  before  he  set  out  upon  his  embassy, 
Yvonne  confided  to  his  care  a  letter  which  she 
begged  him  to  entrust  to  any  discreet  person 
whom  he  might  find  in  England  about  under- 
taking a  journey  to  France,  as  she  dared  not  send 
it  by  mail.  The  letter  was  addressed  to  Etienne 
De  Lancey.  In  care  of  the  Sieur  Melchior  Bonne- 
foi. 

"  LA  KOCHELLE,  France. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  compromise  the  Sieur  Bonne- 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  295 

foi,"  Yvonne  explained,  "by  sending  this  letter 
publicly  in  his  care,  for  though  he  is  a  Catholic  it 
might  bring  him  under  suspicion  if  it  were  known 
that  he  aided  heretics  b}^  so  much  as  forwarding 
their  letters.  He  will  gladly  for  our  sake  give  it 
to  Etienne  De  Lancey  if  Etienne  is  in  La  Kochelle 
or  send  it  to  him  if  he  knows  where  he  is.  I  can- 
not share  my  father's  opinion  that  Etienne  is  dead. 
He  had  gone  to  the  West  Indies  when  we  left  La 
Rochelle.  His  family  were  forced  to  emigrate 
soon  after,  but  they  have  never  heard  from  him. 
Something  tells  me  that  he  is  still  alive,  and  seek- 
ing for  us.  I  believe  that  he  would  return  to  La 
Eochelle  and  that  the  Sieur  Bonnefoi  may  have 
seen  him,  for  it  is  to  the  Sieur  Bonnefoi  that 
Etienne  would  go  for  news  of  us." 

Yvonne  paused  abruptly,  but  "William  Nicoll's 
keen  sympathy  told  him  the  rest.  He  knew  from 
his  own  experience  the  hope  deferred  which  makes 
the  heart  sick,  and  the  truth  of  the  old  proverb, 
"  To  search,  and  still  to  find  not,  to  wait  for  one 
who  comes  not,  to  want  and  still  to  have  not — are 
three  things  to  die  of." 

He  took  the  letter  and  answered  cheerily, 
"  Keep  a  brave  heart,  little  one.  Lovers  are  hard 
to  kill.  I  know  that  because  I  would  have  died 


296  ANNEKE. 

long  ago  had  not  the  thought  of  the  chance  of  see- 
ing Anneke  given  me  the  courage  to  battle  for  my 
life.  The  young  man  shall  have  his  letter,  and  I 
predict  that  before  the  year  is  out  you  will  have 
news  of  him." 

Crossing  the  ocean  was  not  then  the  pleasure  trip 
which  it  is  for  us,  and  Anneke's  heart  was  full  of 
vague  alarm  as  she  saw  her  husband  sail  away. 
Must  she  lose  him  now  that  life  was  so  sweet  ?  She 
stifled  her  own  fears  while  she  encouraged  Yvonne, 
and  a  busy  round  of  household  cares  filled  the  hours 
of  the  weary  waiting  time. 

With  William  Nicoll  all  went  well  until  the  voy- 
age was  nearly  over.  Favoring  winds  had  borne 
the  ship  swiftly  on  its  way.  In  another  day  they 
hoped  to  sight  the  coast  of  England,  when  suddenly 
a  French  privateer  bore  down  upon  them,  and  with 
a  shot  across  their  bows  demanded  their  surrender. 

The  captain  promptly  ran  up  a  white  flag. 
"What  does  this  mean,  captain  ?"  the  passengers 
asked  anxiously. 

"It  means,"  the  captain  replied,  "that  the  ship 
will  be  taken  as  a  prize  to  Saint  Malo,  where  we 
will  all  be  detained  until  arrangements  can  be  made 
for  our  exchange.  As  we  are  all  non-combatants 
we  are  in  no  danger  of  our  lives.  We  are  simply 
forced  to  make  a  little  visit  in  France." 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  297 

"William  Nicoll  thought  of  the  credentials  which 
he  was  carrying  as  ambassador  to  England  to  ob- 
tain munition  of  war  against  the  French,  and,  not 
sure  that  he  would  be  considered  a  non-combatant 
if  they  were  read,  he  destroyed  them  with  all  haste 
possible.  He  hesitated  a  moment  whether  to  sub- 
mit Yvonne's  letter  to  the  same  fate,  but  it  occurred 
to  him  that  in  this  enforced  visit  to  France  he  might 
find  the  opportunity  of  sending  it  on  its  way  for 
which  she  had  hoped,  and  he  secreted  it  with  a  part 
of  his  money  in  the  lining  of  his  coat. 

It  was  a  vain  precaution,  the  practised  hands  of 
the  searchers  felt  the  gold,  and  letter  and  money 
were  taken  to  the  Captain  of  the  Privateer,  who 
sent  a  summons  for  Nicoll  to  be  brought  on  board 
his  own  ship.  As  he  stepped  on  deck  the  shock  of 
recognition  was  mutual,  for  though  the  Captain  of 
an  authorized  privateer  instead  of  a  pirate  the  evil 
face  of  Lollonois  was  unmistakable. 

"  I  see  you  know  me,"  said  the  ex-pirate.  "  I  re- 
member too  that  you  were  one  of  Morgan's  men. 
We  met  last  in  Tortuga.  "We  have  each  become 
more  respectable  since  those  days." 

"  I  was  with  Morgan  in  the  West  Indies,"  Wil- 
liam JSTicoll  replied,  not  attempting  to  clear  himself 
of  Lollonois'  imputation. 

"Then  you  know  enough  of  me  to  understand 


298  ANNEKE. 

that  I  never  scruple  to  take  a  man's  life,  and  that 
if  I  spare  yours  it  is  because  I  expect  you  to  render 
me  service  in  future." 

"  You  will  doubtless  receive  a  good  recompense 
in  prize  money  when  you  reach  Saint  Malo,  and 
Captain  Lollonois  hardly  needs  the  reminder  that 
(in  honorable  warfare)  prisoners  are  more  valuable 
alive  than  dead." 

"  I  shall  make  you  more  valuable,"  Lollonois  re- 
plied surlily. 

"You  have  over  three  hundred  pounds  of  my 
private  property.  I  will  enter  no  complaint  against 
you  for  taking  this  money  from  me,  which  can 
hardly  be  a  part  of  your  instructions,  if  you  will 
help  me  to  continue  my  journey  to  England,  and 
return  the  letter  taken  from  me." 

"You  will  have  no  opportunity  to  make  com- 
plaint, for  unless  you  give  me  your  oath  not  to  do 
so  you  will  walk  the  plank  before  we  reach  shore. 
As  for  the  letter,  it  was  for  that  I  sent  for  you.  It 
happens  oddly  enough  that  it  concerns  me.  The 
man  to  whom  it  is  addressed  was  killed  two  years 
ago.  I  took  his  ship  off  Margarita.  It  was  a  good 
haul.  I  have  his  papers  in  my  locker  with  other 
letters  from  the  Demoiselle  Yvonne.  I  laughed 
when  I  read  them.  Shall  I  tell  you  why  ? 

"  I  was  born  and  brought  up  at  the  Sables  d'Ol- 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  299 

lonnes,  that  is  why  they  call  me  Lollonois.  I  have 
good  reason  to  remember  Franpois  Fontenay  and 
his  castle  of  Tiffauges.  It  was  one  of  the  strongest 
castles  in  our  part  of  France,  and  it  belonged  in 
feudal  times  to  the  most  wicked  and  cruel  of  the 
old  seigneurs,  the  infamous  Gilles  de  Retz,  him  they 
called  Blue  Beard,  who  murdered  his  wives  and 
sacrificed  little  children  to  Satan.  My  mother  used 
to  try  to  scare  me  into  goodness,  with,  '  Take  care, 
Gilles  de  Retz  will  catch  you  ! '  But  her  stories  did 
not  have  the  desired  effect.  I  only  thought  how 
fine  it  must  be  to  be  a  grand  seigneur  and  be  as 
cruel  as  I  pleased  with  no  one  to  call  me  to  account. 
So  I  tortured  cats  instead  of  children,  and  when  I 
grew  older  I  ranged  the  country  round  searching 
for  the  castle  of  Tiffauges.  At  last  I  saw  it  crown- 
ing a  long  eminence,  black  and  grim  against  a 
flaming  sunset  sky.  I  knew  it  without  asking  any 
one,  and  I  swam  the  Sevre  to  reach  it,  and  walked 
a  mile  along  its  outer  wall  before  I  reached  the 
drawbridge.  It  was  down  and  the  portcullis  up, 
and  I  slipped  inside.  The  old  ruined  keep  was  at 
one  side  of  the  entrance.  It  was  in  its  dungeons 
that  Gilles  de  Retz  used  to  kill  the  children,  and 
while  I  was  gaping  at  it  I  felt  a  hand  grip  my 
shoulder,  and  a  rough  voice  asked  me  what  I  was 
doing  in  the  courtyard.  I  struggled  and  kicked 


300  ANNEKE. 

and  bit  the  hand  that  held  me,  but  to  no  purpose. 
I  was  in  the  grasp  of  the  warden  who  was  about  to 
put  me  out,  when  I  heard  a  gentle  voice  say, 
'  Bring  the  boy  here,  Bastien,'  and  I  was  led  to  the 
terrace  of  a  pretty  modern  villa,  the  new  chateau, 
built  in  the  centre  of  the  old  enceinte. 

"  My  fears  left  me  at  once,  for  it  did  not  look  at 
all  like  a  castle,  but  only  an  elegant  little  house. 
Lights  were  twinkling  inside,  and  I  found  myself 
face  to  face  with  a  fine  gentleman.  '  Come  in,  my 
boy,'  he  said,  'and  tell  me  why  you  came  to  see 
me.' 

"  I  despised  him  at  once  for  his  courtesy.  '  I  did 
not  come  to  see  you  at  all,'  I  said,  '  I  wanted  to  see 
the  castle  of  Gilles  de  Retz.' 

"  *  He  was  a  bad  man,  we  do  not  like  to  remember 
him  ;  but  if  you  will  come  in  the  daylight  you  shall 
see  the  dungeons.  You  have  come  far  and  are  wet, 
and  doubtless  hungry.  Bastien  will  give  you  some 
supper  before  you  go.'  His  kindness  made  me  im- 
pudent. *  Was  Gilles  de  Eetz  a  relation  of  yours  ?  ' 
I  asked. 

" '  Gilles  de  Retz  left  no  descendant,'  he  replied, 
'  but  I  belong  to  the  family  of  his  innocent  though 
unfortunate  wife.  We  do  not  murder  little  chil- 
dren, you  need  not  be  afraid.' 

"  Afraid  !     Bah !   If  he  had  known  the  contempt  I 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  301 

felt  for  him,  and  to  think  that  the  castle  of  my 
hero  had  fallen  to  a  milk- sop  like  that ! 

"  Years  later,  but  before  I  ran  away  to  sea,  I  paid 
another  visit  to  the  castle.  I  found  the  drawbridge 
broken,  the  pretty  villa  inside  the  walls  burned,  the 
place  vacant  and  desolate.  There  was  not  a  living 
creature  within  the  enclosure,  and  I  roamed  about 
it  freely.  One  tower  at  the  extreme  end  of  the 
courtyard  had  not  been  dismantled,  and  I  explored 
its  dungeons  and  clambered  about  its  battlements. 
A  room  in  this  tower  had  been  overlooked  when 
the  place  was  sacked.  There  was  a  piece  of  tapes- 
try on  the  wall  which  I  thought  would  make  me  a 
good  blanket.  The  arms  of  the  family  were  woven 
into  the  border.  I  learned  to  know  them  well  for 
I  slept  under  them  all  that  winter.  They  must 
have  worked  a  spell  upon  me,  for  I  swore  that  one 
day  I  too  would  have  the  right  to  bear  arms  and 
live  in  a  castle  like  that.  Look  you  how  strangely 
things  come  out.  I  have  gone  through  fire  and 
blood  and  crime,  but  I  have  come  back  to  France 
so  rich  that  your  paltry  three  hundred  pounds  are 
not  worth  my  taking  though  I  shall  keep  them  all 
the  same.  I  have  told  you  all  this  that  you  may 
tell  Franyois  de  Fontenay  Vicomte  of  Tiffauges  that 
the  boy  whom  he  patronized  and  fed  like  a  stray 
dog,  intends  to  buy  the  castle  which  he  deserted 


302  ANN  EKE. 

without  so  much  as  striking  a  blow  in  its  defence, 
and  to  lead  such  a  life  there  as  will  be  worthy  of 
Gilles  de  Ketz. 

"  Tell  Mademoiselle  Yvonne  to  dry  her  pretty 
eyes  and  to  take  another  lover.  I  have  no  grudge 
against  her,  and  I  would  not  have  her  wait  for  one 
who  can  never  come.  As  for  you,  I  will  do  what  I 
can  to  have  you  released,  for  it  would  please  me  to 
have  you  carry  these  messages." 

On  their  arrival  at  Saint  Malo  William  Nicoll 
was  handed  over  to  the  governor  of  the  castle 
with  the  other  prisoners.  On  giving  their  parole 
not  to  attempt  to  escape  they  were  allowed  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  liberty  until  their  exchange  could 
be  effected.  The  days  dragged  wearily  and  William 
Nicoll  fell  sick  from  anxiety  and  impatience  for 
the  promised  release.  The  governor,  pitying  his 
condition,  allowed  him  to  be  removed  to  a  little  inn 
outside  the  castle,  and  here  he  improved  sufficiently 
to  sit  upon  a  bench  beside  the  door. 

One  day  a  traveller  stopped  at  the  inn,  and,  as 
his  chest  was  carried  into  the  house,  William  Nicoll 
noticed  the  name,  Bonnefoi,  stenciled  upon  the  end 
in  large  white  letters.  Where  had  he  seen  that 
name  ?  The  man's  face  was  kindly  but  unfamiliar. 
Suddenly  the  answer  to  his  question  flashed  through 
his  mind,  and  when  the  stranger  reappeared  Nicoll 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  303 

asked :  "  Pardon  me,  sir,  but  am  I  speaking  to 
Melchior  Bonnefoi  of  La  Rochelle  ?  " 

"  The  same,"  the  other  replied  in  surprise.  "  Have 
you  any  errand  with  me  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no  !  I  had  a  letter  to  be  placed  in  your 
care  for  one  Etienne  De  Lancey  ;  but  the  letter  has 
been  taken  from  me,  and  I  have  learned  to  my 
grief  that  the  young  man  is  dead." 

"  What,  dead  !  "  exclaimed  Bonnefoi ;  "  and 
when  and  how  did  he  die  ?  " 

"  Two  years  ago.  I  have  the  story  from  the 
pirate  who  took  his  life  in  the  West  Indies." 

An  expression  of  infinite  relief  took  the  place  of 
the  startled  look  on  Melchior  Bonnef  oi's  countenance. 
"  Then  I  have  to  tell  you,  my  friend,  that  your 
pirate  lied.  Etienne  De  Lancey  was  alive  six 
months  ago,  for — "  and  here  he  whispered  in  Wil- 
liam KicolPs  ear.  "  I  myself  helped  him  to  escape 
from  La  Rochelle — to  which  place  he  had  most  im- 
prudently returned." 

"Where  is  he  now?"  William  Nicoll  asked 
eagerly.  "  You  may  trust  me,  for  I  ask  in  behalf  of 
his  friends  the  de  Fontenays,  who  are  very  anxious 
on  his  account." 

"As  he  is  for  them.  It  was  to  obtain  news 
of  them  that  he  returned,  and  to  search  for  them 
that  he  has  gone,  to  England  as  I  think,  but  I 


304  ANNEKE. 

have  no  address,  no  way  of  communicating  with 
him." 

They  talked  together  a  little  longer  and  before 
he  left,  Bonnefoi  insisted  that  William  Nicoll  should 
accept  as  a  loan  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  He 
promised  to  do  his  best  to  obtain  news  of  De  Lan- 
cey  and  to  send  him  word  of  the  whereabouts  of 
the  de  Fontenays,  and  William  Nicoll  was  much 
cheered  by  this  chance  meeting.  The  days  length- 
ened into  weeks  and  the  weeks  to  months  and  the 
long-looked-for  exchange  was  not  announced,  when, 
one  afternoon  as  he  was  impatiently  pacing  the 
beach  he  saw  approaching  him  the  familiar  figure 
of  Lollonois.  There  was  something  inexpressibly 
offensive  in  the  jauntiness  of  his  swagger  and 
the  assumption  of  equality  with  which  he  slapped 
Nicoll  upon  the  shoulder. 

"  Great  news,  good  news  for  both  of  us,"  he 
cried.  "  We  set  sail  to-morrow  for  America." 

"  For  America !  "  William  Nicoll  exclaimed,  in 
astonishment. 

"  For  America,  and  I  do  not  wonder  at  your  sur- 
prise. Come  back  to  the  inn,  and  while  we  eat  our 
supper  I  will  tell  you  what  has  happened. 

"  When  I  left  you  I  had  no  more  idea  of  sailing 
anywhere  than  you  had  a  half  hour  ago ;  but  the 
King  has  made  it  to  my  advantage  to  go,  and  I  will 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  305 

make  it  to  yours  to  accompany  me.  When  I  bade 
you  good-bye  it  was  to  take  a  run  down  to  the 
chateau  of  Tiffauges,  of  which  I  told  you.  I  found 
it  not  nearly  so  badly  ruined  as  I  expected.  With 
one  third  of  the  fortune  which  I  have  gained  I 
could  restore  it,  and  on  the  income  of  the  remaining 
two-thirds  I  could  lead  the  life  of  a  grand  seigneur. 
The  idea  struck  me  that  it  would  be  amusing  to  try 
the  experiment  for  a  time.  I  journeyed  to  Ver- 
sailles, and  there  I  found  an  advocate  named  Qua- 
trepattes,  a  man  who  makes  it  his  business  to 
arrange  such  matters,  and  by  a  judicious  expendi- 
ture of  my  hard-earned  gold  I  obtained  his  services. 
The  result  is  that  I  have  not  only  bought  the 
chateau,  but  the  title  as  well.  Yes,  Mr.  Nicoll,  I 
am  no  longer  the  outlaw  Lollonois  but  the  Yicomte 
de  Tiffauges.  It  took  more  of  my  fortune  than  I 
liked,  but  a  new  enterprise  has  been  decided  upon, 
by  which  I  hope  to  regain  as  much  or  more  than  I 
have  expended.  The  King  has  need  of  all  the  ships 
of  war  which  he  can  muster,  and  he  has  offered 
such  generous  terms  to  privateers  that  I  have 
agreed  to  make  one  more  voyage  before  I  settle 
down  upon  my  estates." 

"  So  you  are  going  to  Canada  ?  "  William  Nicoll 
asked. 

"  No,  my  man,"  Lollonois  replied,  for  the  spirits 


306  ANNEKE. 

which  he  had  been  drinking  had  loosened  his 
tongue,  "  I  shall  join  the  French  fleet  off  New- 
foundland ;  but  it  is  not  to  fish  for  cod,  for  our  des- 
tination is  New  York  ! " 

In  spite  of  himself  William  Nicoll  could  not  sup- 
press an  exclamation  of  dismay.  * 

"You  need  not  be  so  put  out,"  Lollonois  replied. 
"  We  have  as  good  a  right  to  take  New  York  from 
the  English  as  they  had  to  take  New  Amsterdam 
from  the  Dutch,  and  if  you  act  cleverly  the  change 
may  be  none  the  worse  for  you.  You  went  in  with 
one  set  of  invaders,  and  you  may  enter  with  an- 
other. You  have  helped  me  without  meaning  to 
do  so  to  my  good  luck,  and  if  you  help  me  still 
further  I  will  pay  you  well.  Look,  there  is  more 
in  this  thing  than  I  understand,  but  I  leave  the 
ravelling  of  the  tangle  to  my  betters.  Quatrepattes 
has  satisfied  me  as  to  what  I  am  to  have  and  that 
is  enough  for  me.  Read  this  paper." 

William  Nicoll  scrutinized  the  document  which 
Lollonois  spread  before  him.  It  stated  that  Etienne 
De  Lancey  had  been  proved  innocent  of  all  charges 
heretofore  preferred  against  him  and  was  free  to 
return  and  live  in  France;  it  assured  him  the  castle 
and  domain  of  Tiffauges  in  return  for  a  certain 
sum  whose  receipt  was  acknowledged  as  having 
been  paid  by  De  Lancey's  agent,  and  in  case  of  his 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  307 

marriage  with  the  daughter  of  the  present  Yicomte 
it  promised  him  succession  to  the  title  as  though  he 
were  the  son  of  the  said  noble. 

"  But  I  do  not  understand,"  said  William  Nicoll, 
"  how  these  grants  to  Etienne  De  Lancey  concern 
you." 

"  They  concern  me,"  Lollonois  replied,  "  because 
I  am  Etienne  De  Lancey.  He  is  dead ;  I  have  his 
effects.  In  returning  to  France  it  serves  my  pur- 
pose to  drop  my  old  life,  and  to  take  a  new  person- 
ality. I  talked  this  over  with  Quatrepattes,  and 
showed  him  De  Lancey's  papers.  He  has  a  great 
head,  that  Quatrepattes,  and  he  showed  me  how 
easy  it  would  be,  provided  as  I  am  with  all  the 
credentials,  to  assume  the  name  of  De  Lancey.  It 
seems  that  he  too  was  under  a  cloud  but  not  so 
black  a  one  as  mine.  It  was  only  a  little  charge  of 
heresy,  which  the  King  set  aside  when  I  swore  that 
it  was  untrue,  and  that  I  am  a  good  Catholic.  I 
am  to  have  all  of  De  Lancey's  property  that  was 
confiscated,  in  case  I  voluntarily  give  half  of  its  value 
to  the  church  to  prove  my  orthodoxy,  and  half  to  the 
King  to  prove  my  gratitude.  I  did  not  see  where 
I  was  bettered  by  this  arrangement ;  but  Quatre- 
pattes assures  me  that  it  puts  me  on  good  terms 
with  church  and  King.  Quatrepattes  says  the 
King  was  delighted  when  he  showed  him  the 


308  ANNEKE. 

letters  of  Mademoiselle  Yvonne  proving  that  she 
is  my  betrothed.  Mind  you,  the  King  supposes  that 
I  am  really  De  Lancey,  and  so  he  very  willingly 
assured  me  the  title  of  Yicomte  de  Tiffauges  after 
the  death  of  my  father-in-law,  whom  it  seems  he  is 
anxious  that  I  should  bring  back  with  me  to  France, 
as  his  going  away  was  all  a  mistake.  The  King 
has  sought  vainly  to  find  his  hiding-place,  and  when 
the  letter  you  brought  from  Mademoiselle  Yvonne 
proved  them  to  be  in  New  York  he  was  pleased 
beyond  measure." 

"  Do  you  imagine,"  "William  Nicoll  asked  in  as- 
tonishment, "  that  the  de  Fontenays,  and  especially 
Mademoiselle  Yvonne,  will  accept  your  personifica- 
tion of  De  Lancey  ?  " 

Lollonois  smiled.  "  Mademoiselle  Yvonne  and  her 
family  need  not  at  first  know  that  I  am  the  Etienne 
De  Lancey  referred  to  in  this  paper.  They  will 
come  with  me  willingly  if  they  think  the  conditions 
refer  to  her  former  lover.  Mademoiselle  will  get 
accustomed  to  me  upon  the  voyage,  and  will  accept 
the  situation  when  she  understands  that  in  marry- 
ing me  she  purchases  her  ancestral  possessions,  her 
liberty  and  her  father's  life." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  the  Vicomte  would  die  rather 
than  have  his  daughter  sacrifice  herself." 

"The  Vicomte  may  die  anyway.     I  am  not  so 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  309 

sure  of  what  will  happen  to  him  when  he  is  in 
the  King's  hands.  I  shall  deliver  him,  that  is 
enough." 

"  Unless  he  does  not  fall  into  this  trap.  If  he 
should  happen  not  to  believe  your  story,  or  if  he  or 
you  should  be  killed  in  attacking  the  town." 

"  I  have  thought  of  that,  and  this  is  where  you 
can  be  useful  to  me.  We  will  try  persuasion  first, 
force  only  if  necessary.  The  de  Fontenays  know 
you,  and  trust  you.  You  shall  sail  with  me.  We 
will  stop  off  Long  Island  before  joining  the  French 
fleet.  You  shall  act  for  me,  think  for  me,  and  per- 
suade the  de  Fontenays  to  return  to  France  with 
me.  Then  when  the  country  is  taken,  your  life  and 
the  lives  and  property  of  your  friends  shall  be  pre- 
served to  you." 

For  a  moment  William  Nicoll  hesitated,  not  in  his 
allegiance  to  his  friends,  but  as  to  what  would  be 
the  better  means  of  serving  them.  What  if  he 
should  apparently  accept  Lollonois'  offer,  go  with 
him,  secure  this  document  for  the  true  Etienne  De 
Lancey,  cause  himself  to  be  landed  at  Shelter  Island 
before  the  attack  on  the  city,  and  so  give  the  alarm 
to  the  inhabitants  ? 

But  every  fibre  of  his  honest  nature  recoiled 
against  this  course  of  duplicity,  and  he  threw  down 
the  gage  of  defiance  openly. 


310  ANN  EKE. 

"  I  will  not  go  with  you  or  help  you,  Captain  Lol- 
lonois,"  he  declared.  "  On  the  contrary,  I  will  use 
every  means  in  my  power,  and  I  have  more  than 
you  know,  to  thwart  your  plans." 

"  I  was  afraid  you  might  at  first  decide  in  this 
way,"  Lollonois  replied,  "  but  you  shall  have  time 
to  consider.  You  will  go  with  me,  you  will  have 
no  possibility  of  thwarting  me,  and  when  I  have 
tried  certain  pleasant  means  of  persuasion  that  I 
know  how  to  use,  you  may  decide  to  help  me." 

He  gave  a  low  whistle,  two  doors  flew  open  and 
a  half  dozen  seamen  threw  themselves  upon  Nicoll, 
bound  and  gagged  him,  and  led  him  to  the  shore. 
Here  a  boat  was  waiting,  and  Lollonois  gave  the 
order  to  row  out  to  his  ship.  The  sea  was  running 
high,  rowing  was  difficult,  and  the  pirates  deter- 
mined to  unbind  Nicoll  to  obtain  his  assistance  at 
the  oars.  Most  fortunately  for  him  the  boat  cap- 
sized when  almost  under  the  bows  of  the  ship,  and 
the  pirates  in  their  scramble  for  life,  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  their  captive.  They  were  able  to  get  safely 
on  board,  but  though  they  searched  the  water  with 
lights,  they  failed  to  discover  Nicoll,  and  concluded 
that  he  had  been  drowned. 

Aided  by  the  tide,  he  was  able  to  reach  shore,  and 
after  various  adventures,  at  length  made  his  way  to 
England.  Here  he  found  a  ship  about  sailing  for 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  311 

New  York,  and  he  sent  by  her  a  report  to  his  col- 
leagues of  all  that  he  had  been  able  to  learn  of  the 
expedition  in  preparation  against  them  by  the 
French.  He  also  sent  two  letters,  one  to  Anneke, 
assuring  her  of  his  own  welfare,  and  begging  her 
to  encourage  Yvonne  with  the  joyful  news  that 
Etienne  De  Lancey  was  still  alive  and  devotedly 
searching  for  her,  and  the  other  to  the  Vicomte  de 
Fontenay,  putting  him  on  his  guard  against  the  vil- 
lainous schemes  of  Lollonois. 

Having  mailed  these  despatches,  he  devoted  him- 
self to  the  mission  on  which  he  had  been  sent,  and 
prospered  so  well  that  he  was  able  to  secure  a  con- 
siderable grant  for  the  defence  of  New  York,  and 
to  set  out  for  home  within  a  few  weeks  on  one  of 
his  Majesty's  men-of-war,  ordered  to  this  particular 
service. 

His  heart  throbbed  with  the  most  acute  anxiety 
as  he  approached  the  city.  Should  he  find  it  in 
ashes,  or  in  the  possession  of  the  French  ?  and  it 
was  with  the  greatest  joy  that  he  saw  that  the 
English  flag  was  still  flying  over  the  little  fort  at 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  and  later  recognized 
Anneke  among  the  townspeople  who  had  flocked  to 
the  shore  on  the  announcement  of  the  approach  of 
an  English  vessel. 

On  receipt  of  his  letter  she  had  come  to  the  city 


312  ANN  EKE. 

to  await  his  arrival,  but  she  was  wan  with  anxiety 
and  grief,  as  were  the  other  citizens.  No  attack 
had  been  made  upon  New  York  by  the  French 
fleet,  but  Louis  XIY.'s  plans  had  only  partly  mis- 
carried. Frontenac  had  carried  out  the  orders 
which  he  had  received,  and  had  sent  three  land 
expeditions  against  the  English  colonies.  Two  of 
these  had  brought  death  and  desolation  to  settle- 
ments in  Maine  and  Vermont,  and  the  third  had 
sacked  and  burned  Schenectady,  killing  a  large  pro- 
portion of  its  inhabitants  and  carrying  many  others 
to  Canada  as  prisoners.  Tears  streamed  from 
Anneke's  eyes  as  she  told  her  husband  in  the  list  of 
the  missing  were  the  names  of  Franpois  de  Fontenay 
and  his  family. 

"  But  Yvonne  was  with  you,"  said  William 
Nicoll,  "  she  at  least  is  safe." 

"  She  was  with  me,"  Anneke  replied.  "  until  the 
arrival  of  your  letter,  when  she  insisted  on  returning 
home  to  tell  her  parents  the  joyful  news  that 
Etienne  De  Lancey  was  still  alive.  There  is  only 
one  chance :  the  Mohawks  have  sent  out  a  war  party 
on  the  path  of  the  retreating  French,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  they  may  rescue  the  captives." 

This  hope  faded  with  the  return  of  the  Indian 
allies  without  the  de  Fontenays ;  but  those  inter- 
ested in  their  fate  may  learn  of  it  in  another  vol- 


FRANCE  TAKES  A  HAND.  313 

ume.      The  present  concerns  itself  only  with  the 
story  of  Anneke. 

Had  the  poem  been  written  in  his  day,  we  might 
imagine  grey-haired  William  JSTicoll  seated  by  her 
side  in  their  happy  home  on  Shelter  Island  repeat- 
ing to  his  faithful  wife  the  lines  with  which  this 
story  closes : 

''  We  are  sitting  by  the  window,  yon  and  I,  hand  in  hand, 
While  the  hush  of  twilight's  stealing  o'er  the  peaceful  laud. 
We  have  had  our  joys  and  sorrows,  we've  had  our  pain  and  care, 
But  with  love  to  smooth  the  way,  they've  not  been  hard  to  bear. 
And  my  thoughts  go  wand'riug  back  to  the  day  when  first  we  met. 
For  we  loved  each  other  then,  dear,  as  we  both  love  yet." 


THE  END. 


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